From the Archive: Economic sanctions against South Africa decreed

Commonwealth leaders met in London, UK, exactly 23 years ago this month to lay down a “concerted programme” of economic sanctions against apartheid-era South Africa.

In their communiqué, the Heads of Government called for “the dismantling of apartheid and the establishment of a non-racial and representative government in South Africa as a matter of compelling urgency.”

They said: “The Commonwealth cannot stand by and allow the cycle of violence to spiral, but must take effective concerted action ...

“We trust that the authorities in Pretoria will recognise the seriousness of our resolve.”

Sanctions included a ban on both air links and investments in South Africa, as well as a bar on agricultural imports and the promotion of tourism to the country.

Bank loans to South African companies were also banned as well as imports of coal, iron, steel and uranium from the country. Consular facilities were also withdrawn under the agreement.

‘Not adequate concrete progress’

The leaders of seven member countries were present at the meeting in London between 3 and 5 August 1986. They included President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, Prime Ministers Robert Hawke of Australia, Lynden Pindling of The Bahamas, Brian Mulroney of Canada, Rajiv Gandhi of India and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, as well as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Billed as a ‘review meeting’, the mini-summit was convened following the previous year’s full Heads of Government summit in Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas, at which the Commonwealth had demanded South Africa dismantle its system of white minority rule.

An international group of observers known as the Eminent Persons Group, or EPG, was dispatched by Commonwealth Secretary-General Shridath Ramphal following Nassau to meet with the government and opposition groups. The EPG was aborted in May 1986 however after an upsurge in violence, concluding that “at present there is no genuine intention on the part of the South African government to dismantle apartheid.”

Piling on international pressure

Meeting at the mini-summit in London, six of the seven leaders present signed up to the sanctions, concluding: “There has not been the adequate concrete progress that we looked for.”

Only the UK, led by Mrs Thatcher, declined to sign up in full to the agreement. The Prime Minister instead offered a “voluntary ban” on investment in South Africa and promotion of tourism.

Besides adopting the sanctions, the six Heads of Government agreed to recommend them to other governments with significant economic links with South Africa.

Not punitive – but corrective

In the days afterward, the Heads appealed directly to the governments of the USA, Japan and the European Community to follow their lead.

Mr Ramphal, speaking at a conference a few weeks later, insisted that the sanctions were intended as “not punitive but as corrective”.

“[It is] a programme to impress on Pretoria, and those in South Africa who support the regime,” he said, “that apartheid must be dismantled and a future for all South Africans that is truly non-racial and democratic within a united and non-fragmented country.”

Secretariat Links:

• Democracy and Consensus Building
• Country Profile: South Africa