International Sanctions

• Sanctions against South Africa have been in place for a while, (UN condemnation in 1962, banning of arms sales in 1963); in the 1980s, sanctions increased from powerful nations to pressure governments into changing their actions
• Pressure had also been on certain governments, e.g. the UK, from the Anti-Apartheid Movement - worked with the International Defence and Aid Fund
• US Anti-Apartheid Act, 1986; caused severe economic strain on South Africa, and encouraged American companies to withdraw, coincided in major banks like Chase Manhattan, Barclays, and Esso withdrawing investments
• British sanctions were less forthcoming in the mid to late 1980s, Thatcher claimed it would cause more harm to black people than the government
• The European Economic Community (EEC) imposed sanctions, costing South Africa millions and doubling black unemployment, (increased ANC membership)
• Sporting sanctions were still in place, including ban to the Olympics from 1964 to 1992 and the Gleneagles Agreement (ban to 1987 and 1991 rugby world cups)
• Sanctions take time to fully impact a country, as South Africa was still self-sufficient with available resources