We hear for the first time from internationalist who secretly worked for the ANC's armed Wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), in the struggle to liberate South Africa from apartheid rule. They acted as couriers, provided safe houses in neighbouring states and within South Africia, helped infiltrate combatants across borders, and smuggled tonnes of weapons into the county in the most creative of ways. Driven by a spirit of international solidarity, they were prepared to take huge risks and face great danger.

The internationalists reveal what motivated them as volunteers, not mercenaries: they gained nothing for their endeavours save for the self-esteem in serving a just cause. Against such clandestine involvement, the book includes contributions from key people in the international Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM) and its public mobilisation to isolate the apartheid regime. These include worldwide campaigns like Stop the Sports Tours, boycotting South African products and black American solidarity. The Cuban, East German and Russian contributions outline those countries' support for the ANC and MK. The public, global AAM campaigns provide the dimension from which internationalists who secretly served MK emerged.