Reagan and South African Sanctions

The first sanctions placed on South Africa was the CAAA that was initiated by Republican Senator William Roth (from Delaware). In 1981, Reagan who was still recovering from an assassination attempt, sent William Clark to South Africa. Clark was told to voice Reagan’s disapproval. He did exactly that and told then South African PM PW Botha the message straight to his face. In fact in a classic war of words Clark made it very clear that Reagan ‘abhorred Apartheid’. Reagan did oppose the 1985 sanctions Bill as he believed that his policy of  ‘Constructive Engagement’ was more likely to bring about change. He was also concerned about the 1985 Sanctions destabilizing the country making it ripe for a Marxist takeover. Remember there were Marxist regimes already in power in Mozambique and Angola. Mugabe himself in Zimbabwe had been backed by the Soviets. It was still the Cold War.

Reagan’s concerns were legitimate – Marxist regimes had brought about mass genocide in Cambodia and Ethiopia and a genuine concern to avoid this path makes complete sense. South Africa with its resources falling into the orbit of the Soviets was something that both Republican and Democrat Presidential Administrations had sought to avoid (including Jimmy Carter’s I might add). The ANC at the time was linked to the Soviet Union and Mandela (who was in prison) had not yet denounced violence.

A compromised Bill did pass in the House and Senate but Regan opposed it as he felt that the economic restrictions would hurt impoverished Blacks (which it did). He was willing to put through sanctions though through executive order.

Nevertheless Richard Lugar, a Republican Senator from Indiana (Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee)  bucked the president and pushed through an override that was supported in the Senate 78-21 and the House 313-83 indicating significant Republican support. This is what Reagan said afterward

I deeply regret that Congress has seen fit to override my veto of the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986. Punitive sanctions, I believe, are not the best course of action; they hurt the very people they are intended to help. My hope is that these punitive sanctions do not lead to more violence and more repression. Our administration will, nevertheless, implement the law. It must be recognized, however, that this will not solve the serious problems that plague that country. The United States must also move forward with positive measures to encourage peaceful change and advance the cause of democracy in South Africa.

Now is the time for South Africa's Government to act with courage and good sense to avert a crisis. Moderate black leaders who are committed to democracy and oppose revolutionary violence are ready to work for peaceful change. They should not be kept waiting. It would be tragic to lose this opportunity to create a truly free society which respects the rights of the majority, the minority, and the individual. There is still time for orderly change and peaceful reform. South Africans of good will, black and white, should seize the moment.^[17]