Support for the Movement
For the entire duration of the South African Civil Rights Movement, the AAM (Anti-Apartheid Movement) also known as the "Boycott" movement provided support and the means for the movement. The AAM was British organization founded by Peter Koinange, Claudia Jones, Steve Naidoo and Ros Ainslie on the on 26 June 1959, which aimed to boycott consumer relations with the nation of South Africa as form of protest. Along the way they were able to also gain support from other multinational organisations and institutions to shun the actions of the Apartheid. Some of these include: the commonwealth and the International Olympic Committee
1.The Commonwealth:
One of the initial triumphs of the AAM was when they managed to force South Africa to leave the Commonwealth in 1961. It held a 72-hour vigil outside the Commonwealth venue, Marlborough House, and found willing allies in Canada, India and the newly independent Afro-Asian member states. In 1962, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling on all member states to impose a trade boycott against South Africa. In 1963 the UN Security Council called for a partial arms ban against South Africa, but this was not mandatory under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. In addition many trade relations were severed if possible in an attempt to further pressure the nation.
2. The International Olympic Committee:
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) withdrew its invitation to South Africa to the 1964 Olympics when interior minister Jan de Klerk insisted the team would not be racially integrated. In 1968, the IOC was prepared to readmit South Africa after assurances that its team would be multi-racial; but a threatened boycott by African nations and others forestalled this. South Africa was formally expelled from the IOC in 1970. This meant that South Africa was not able to compete in the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Games.
1.The Commonwealth:
One of the initial triumphs of the AAM was when they managed to force South Africa to leave the Commonwealth in 1961. It held a 72-hour vigil outside the Commonwealth venue, Marlborough House, and found willing allies in Canada, India and the newly independent Afro-Asian member states. In 1962, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling on all member states to impose a trade boycott against South Africa. In 1963 the UN Security Council called for a partial arms ban against South Africa, but this was not mandatory under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. In addition many trade relations were severed if possible in an attempt to further pressure the nation.
2. The International Olympic Committee:
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) withdrew its invitation to South Africa to the 1964 Olympics when interior minister Jan de Klerk insisted the team would not be racially integrated. In 1968, the IOC was prepared to readmit South Africa after assurances that its team would be multi-racial; but a threatened boycott by African nations and others forestalled this. South Africa was formally expelled from the IOC in 1970. This meant that South Africa was not able to compete in the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Games.