THE INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE TO APARTHEID
Despite the huge internal pressures on the NP – it was the international pressure that
created the climate for change
Apartheid was widely criticised during apartheid but little was done to force the SA
government to change its policies as SA was a capitalist country in the cold war and the
western countries feared a communist take-over
AAM’S were formed by normal people who were horrified by the human rights abuses in SA,
tried to persuade their governments to take action against the NP
During the 1980s, international pressure on the government increased significantly.
International anti-apartheid movements, sanctions and boycotts, the ANC in exile, and
support for the resistance struggle by the frontline states in Africa all played a role in ending
apartheid.
INTERNATIONAL ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENTS
After Sharpeville and the Soweto Uprising – greater awareness beyond RSA of the injustices
of apartheid & an increase in resistance to these injustices
NP government – criticised by both the UN and Western countries
Protests held in many countries – calls were made for sporting and cultural isolation of RSA –
economic sanctions
Anti-apartheid organisations established
AAM (Anti-apartheid movement) formed in UK in 1959 by RSA exiles and their
supporters, requested by Albert Luthuli – to create awareness of the happenings in RSA
Gained support from the labour party and other trade unions, called for support for
banned organisations like the ANC
Held demonstrations outside RSA embassy in London – also outside of companies
that did business with RSA to force them to disinvest, successful as some sold off
their SA holdings
Father Trevor Huddleston – protested against Sophiatown forced removals - became
a patron of the movement
The UK government didn’t support the AAM – after the labour party came into
control in 1964
Margaret Thatcher (1980’s UK prime minister) firmly opposed to the sanctions
against RSA – wanted to protect UK investments in RSA and the UK relied on
resources from RSA – also feared the communist threat of the ANC
IDAF – (International Defence and Aid Fund) set up in 1965 by anti-apartheid campaigners
Published material to raise awareness about conditions in RSA
Collected funds – paid legal fees of opponents & supported their families
Worked with the ANC in exile
IAAM – (Irish anti-apartheid movement) in 1963 – after Irish trade unions began to demand
the boycott of RSA goods in the 60’s
1963 – student protests during the Rivonia Trial in 1963
One of the founders – Kader Asmal – ANC exile
Supported by church leaders, trade unions and students
ACTIVITIES OF THE ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENTS
, SA became increasingly ISOLATED
DISINVESTMENT AND THE AAM:
Held demonstrations outside the SA embassy in London, also outside other companies that
did business with SA force them to disinvest, some did
Western countries had invested billions in SA – cheap labour and abundant resources, many
investors argued that by not supporting SA, it would do more harm to the blacks than whites
1984 – 1986 township conflict weakened business confidence in SA, western companies
began to pull out
Margaret Thatcher (1980’s UK prime minister) firmly opposed to the sanctions against
RSA – wanted to protect UK investments in RSA and the UK relied on resources from RSA –
also feared the communist threat of the ANC, but Britain decided to impose minor sanctions
on SA such as banning of exporting arms, import of iron and steel etc.
CONSUMER BOYCOTTS
Many consumers applied their own sanctions on goods and refused to buy SA
products – fruit/wine – this was a huge blow to SA farmers, they were forced to try
find alternative markets
CULTURAL BOYCOTTS:
British musicians refused to perform in SA
British films and programmes banned from being shown (1965 - British
Screenwriters guild called for it)
Actors pledged not to work there
This isolated SA – limited TV shows, no international stars
SPORT BOYCOTTS:
1963 – SA banned from Olympics
1970 – the Springboks on tour in the UK – the AAM organised the “stop the seventy
tour” – disrupt and stop matches – successful – most were cancelled
Commonwealth countries – passed the Gleneagles Agreement of 1977 – banned SA
sports people from world sport – successful – people wanted change so that they
could return to playing internationally
ACADEMIC BOYCOTTS:
1960’s academic boycott imposed on SA – SA academics couldn’t get info for
research and SA professors not allowed into international conferences
SA scholars & academics were isolated from the broader academic world – they
wanted change
DISINVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS
Growing support of economic sanctions of SA, as a result of the ANC’s influence in exile
Prominent SA citizens influenced this as well – Desmond Tutu, Albert Luthuli, Kader Asmal
UN – Special Committee Against Apartheid – played a huge role in imposing an oil restriction
on SA
USA – support for sanctions was strong, but President Ronald Reagan was opposed –
communist threat
US Congress and American companies – applied sanctions, try force NP to change policies
1986 US Congress passed the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act:
Investments and loans to SA – banned
SA planes not allowed to land in US
Ban on certain SA imports
Institutions started selling off shares in companies that SA was involved in
Despite the huge internal pressures on the NP – it was the international pressure that
created the climate for change
Apartheid was widely criticised during apartheid but little was done to force the SA
government to change its policies as SA was a capitalist country in the cold war and the
western countries feared a communist take-over
AAM’S were formed by normal people who were horrified by the human rights abuses in SA,
tried to persuade their governments to take action against the NP
During the 1980s, international pressure on the government increased significantly.
International anti-apartheid movements, sanctions and boycotts, the ANC in exile, and
support for the resistance struggle by the frontline states in Africa all played a role in ending
apartheid.
INTERNATIONAL ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENTS
After Sharpeville and the Soweto Uprising – greater awareness beyond RSA of the injustices
of apartheid & an increase in resistance to these injustices
NP government – criticised by both the UN and Western countries
Protests held in many countries – calls were made for sporting and cultural isolation of RSA –
economic sanctions
Anti-apartheid organisations established
AAM (Anti-apartheid movement) formed in UK in 1959 by RSA exiles and their
supporters, requested by Albert Luthuli – to create awareness of the happenings in RSA
Gained support from the labour party and other trade unions, called for support for
banned organisations like the ANC
Held demonstrations outside RSA embassy in London – also outside of companies
that did business with RSA to force them to disinvest, successful as some sold off
their SA holdings
Father Trevor Huddleston – protested against Sophiatown forced removals - became
a patron of the movement
The UK government didn’t support the AAM – after the labour party came into
control in 1964
Margaret Thatcher (1980’s UK prime minister) firmly opposed to the sanctions
against RSA – wanted to protect UK investments in RSA and the UK relied on
resources from RSA – also feared the communist threat of the ANC
IDAF – (International Defence and Aid Fund) set up in 1965 by anti-apartheid campaigners
Published material to raise awareness about conditions in RSA
Collected funds – paid legal fees of opponents & supported their families
Worked with the ANC in exile
IAAM – (Irish anti-apartheid movement) in 1963 – after Irish trade unions began to demand
the boycott of RSA goods in the 60’s
1963 – student protests during the Rivonia Trial in 1963
One of the founders – Kader Asmal – ANC exile
Supported by church leaders, trade unions and students
ACTIVITIES OF THE ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENTS
, SA became increasingly ISOLATED
DISINVESTMENT AND THE AAM:
Held demonstrations outside the SA embassy in London, also outside other companies that
did business with SA force them to disinvest, some did
Western countries had invested billions in SA – cheap labour and abundant resources, many
investors argued that by not supporting SA, it would do more harm to the blacks than whites
1984 – 1986 township conflict weakened business confidence in SA, western companies
began to pull out
Margaret Thatcher (1980’s UK prime minister) firmly opposed to the sanctions against
RSA – wanted to protect UK investments in RSA and the UK relied on resources from RSA –
also feared the communist threat of the ANC, but Britain decided to impose minor sanctions
on SA such as banning of exporting arms, import of iron and steel etc.
CONSUMER BOYCOTTS
Many consumers applied their own sanctions on goods and refused to buy SA
products – fruit/wine – this was a huge blow to SA farmers, they were forced to try
find alternative markets
CULTURAL BOYCOTTS:
British musicians refused to perform in SA
British films and programmes banned from being shown (1965 - British
Screenwriters guild called for it)
Actors pledged not to work there
This isolated SA – limited TV shows, no international stars
SPORT BOYCOTTS:
1963 – SA banned from Olympics
1970 – the Springboks on tour in the UK – the AAM organised the “stop the seventy
tour” – disrupt and stop matches – successful – most were cancelled
Commonwealth countries – passed the Gleneagles Agreement of 1977 – banned SA
sports people from world sport – successful – people wanted change so that they
could return to playing internationally
ACADEMIC BOYCOTTS:
1960’s academic boycott imposed on SA – SA academics couldn’t get info for
research and SA professors not allowed into international conferences
SA scholars & academics were isolated from the broader academic world – they
wanted change
DISINVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS
Growing support of economic sanctions of SA, as a result of the ANC’s influence in exile
Prominent SA citizens influenced this as well – Desmond Tutu, Albert Luthuli, Kader Asmal
UN – Special Committee Against Apartheid – played a huge role in imposing an oil restriction
on SA
USA – support for sanctions was strong, but President Ronald Reagan was opposed –
communist threat
US Congress and American companies – applied sanctions, try force NP to change policies
1986 US Congress passed the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act:
Investments and loans to SA – banned
SA planes not allowed to land in US
Ban on certain SA imports
Institutions started selling off shares in companies that SA was involved in
