US House of Representatives approve Bill to impose stricter sanctions on Apartheid South Africa

On 18 June 1986, the House of Representatives of the United States of America approved a Bill that would impose stricter sanctions against South Africa. This was in response to international and local outcry against the excesses of the Apartheid government then led by PW Botha. This Bill would compel 284 American firms to leave South Africa within 180 days of its proclamation. This despite protests from some quarters that argued that doing so would result in a loss of capital already invested in the country and that South Africa as a sovereign state had a right to decide on its own affairs. Among the finer points of these sanctions was a ban on the exportation of computers to the South African military, police, and government agencies that enforced Apartheid, a ban on the exportation of nuclear technology, the suspension of further loans to the South African government and a ban on the importation of Kruger Rands. An important factor in the eventual passing of this was the sustained pressure put on the Reagan Administration right through the eighties by Civil Rights leaders. Up until this point the Reagan Administration had followed a policy of constructive engagement and quiet diplomacy in the hope that this could bring about reform of the Apartheid system.   References: South Africa and Survival (online), available at: http://news.google.com [Accessed 07 June 2010] Foreign Policy roles of the President and Congress (online), available at: http://fpc.state.gov [Accessed 07 June 2010]