Chapter 2: International opinions of Apartheid 1960s-70s

The start of sanctions

Verwoerd's policies, Sharpeville and the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela had a dramatic effect on world opinion. The first sanctions were imposed in the 1960s

The AAM 1960s

- The campaign for a trade embargo had lots of support but the 1964-70 labour government implemented only a partial ban.

- The AAM extended its campaign for the isolation of SA to sports, the arts and academia.

- Called for the commonwealth to expel South Africa

Following the Rivonia trial the AAM organised a letter campaign calling on people and organisations to bombard the SA government with letters demanding the release of the Rivonia Trialists

- When the accused were sentenced on 11th June 1964, 50 MPs marched to South Africa House in Trafalgar Square.

- On 18th June, the UN Security Council passed resolution 491, calling on South Africa to release all political prisoners.

- Key supporters of boycotting sporting events and banning SA from participating

- 1967 annual conference it focused on disinvestment, putting pressure on specific companies to pull out of SA.

The IDAF 1960s

- Raised money and sent aid into SA for the defence of thousands of political activists and to provide aid for their families while they were in prison.

- Set up by John Collins and out of Christian Action

In 1956, during the treason trial, Canon Collins sent £100 to Ambrose Reeves, Bishop of JoBurg, asking him to brief the best lawyers and pledging CA to raise the funds to pay legal expenses and care.

- The organisation grew and gained international recognition and support.

- John Vorster banned the SA defence and aid committee as an 'unlawful' organisation but the IDAF smuggled aid through secret channels.

- Over 25 years, £100 million was smuggled into SA

1961 the Commonwealth and suspension

- Following a white-only referendum that decided to change South Africa from a monarchy (under the British Crown) to a republic, they needed to re-apply for membership.

- The Commonwealth conference in 1971 saw a resolution against arms sales.

voluntary arms embargo from the UN 1963

Resolution 181 and 182: called upon all states to cease the sale and shipment of arms, ammunition, and military vehicles to South Africa.

Organisation of African Unity 1963

Main aims was to end to end the control of African countries by Europeans, the ANC was South Africa's representative

Lusaka manifesto 1969

Thirteen african countries met in Zambia to issue the manifesto, called for independence in all southern African countries, including SA

Stop the seventies cricket tour AAM

Disrupted matches by throwing tin tacs on the pitch, many matches abandoned

British bank boycotts 1971

Boycott of banks which loaned money to SA, but it wasn't government policy

SA expelled from the Olympics and FIFA 1976

International sporting events for SA were heavily restricted

Gleneagles Agreement 1977

All sporting links with South Africa were banned by the commonwealth

Anti-apartheid year 1978

UN announced it and Tambo spoke at the meeting launching that year

Support from other countries

Zambia, Tanzania, Soviet Union provided military support for the ANC and the PAC, Tanzania hosting PAC training bases and supplies

Why the UN failed in the 60s/70s

- Investments: Lots of British, German and American countries invested money into SA. The South African economy was doing very well. With growth of 5-7% in the 1960s. Investors were making a lot of money. They did not want to pull out.

- Minerals: SA not only had large supplies of diamond and gold but also some of the rare minerals which modern industry cannot do without. e.g: 83% of all platinum and 15% of all titanium in the world.

Limitations from the cold war

- South Africa was strongly capitalist and fiercely opposed to Communism

- Western leaders feared what would happen if South Africa fell into communist hands. Not only their investments or minerals but the strongest bastion of capitalism in Africa would be lost. They looked at the huge amounts of oil carried around the cape from the Middle East to Europe and the US. If the USSR had these resources it put the West at a major disadvantage

- The SA government played up these fears for all they were worth. Ministers made speeches exaggerating the Soviet threat.

Economic sanctions and boycotts

- People boycotted fruit, wine, and cigarettes

- Demonstrations held outside british companies who invested in SA

- Barclays bank boycott

- In the USA a black trade unionist on the board of General Motors worked out a code of principles operating in SA. The code included equal pay for work, fair holidays, fairness in promotion and other principles designed for equality in work.

Overall impact of 60s/70s boycotts

1. Until the 1980s the sanctions only had limited impact on SA.

2. Countries had wished to keep on trading

3. However, significant opposition to apartheid are in the US as the fear of the Soviet Union was diminishing