A South African non-racial political organization. It was formed in 1983 in response to the South African government’s proposal to give the Coloured and Indian communities a limited role in government, as part of its campaign to defuse the country’s political crisis. The UDF opposed this compromise, demanding full enfranchisement of all ethnic groups. By 1985 it had become a significant opposition group, with an affiliated membership of about 2.5 million. Its activities were banned in the same year.