On February 19, 1987, the Washington Office on Africa (WOA) joined a press conference with Congressman Ron Dellums (D-CA) and Senator Alan Cranston (D-CA) announcing introduction of H.R.1580/S.556, comprehensive sanctions legislation against South Africa am Namibia. Speedy passage of these bills is needed to respond to the deteriorating situation in southern Africa. Its introduction early in the 100th Congress sends an important signal to South Africa, Congress, and the Reagan Administration that the anti-apartheid movement remains committed to comprehensive economic sanctions against Pretoria. Rev. Leon Sullivan's recent call for withdrawal of U.S. businesses from South Africa and a trade...
On February 19, 1987, the Washington Office on Africa (WOA) joined a press conference with Congressman Ron Dellums (D-CA) and Senator Alan Cranston (D-CA) announcing introduction of H.R.1580/S.556, comprehensive sanctions legislation against South Africa am Namibia. Speedy passage of these bills is needed to respond to the deteriorating situation in southern Africa. Its introduction early in the 100th Congress sends an important signal to South Africa, Congress, and the Reagan Administration that the anti-apartheid movement remains committed to comprehensive economic sanctions against Pretoria. Rev. Leon Sullivan's recent call for withdrawal of U.S. businesses from South Africa and a trade embargo has placed added pressure on Congress to legislate comprehensive sanctions. H.R.1580/S.556 mandates complete disinvestment of U.S. corporations from South Africa and Namibia within six months of passage of the legislation and a ban on all trade with South Africa. H.R.1580/S.556 is an updated version of H.R. 997, the Dellums bill, which passed in the House last July. The bill also includes some of the stronger sections of the present sanctions law, such as ending the treaty permitting air flights between South Africa and the U.S. The section of the current law prohibiting collaboration between U.S. and South African armed forces is strengthened to prohibit all intelligence cooperation, as well. The present limited sanctions law enacted October 2 is an important step towards ending U.S. support for the apartheid government, but the Reagan Administration is exploiting loopholes in the law and weakening some of the stronger provisions of the bill through loose regulations that permit continued import and export of items prohibited by the legislation. Meanwhile, the South African government is finding ways to undercut sanctions by exploiting loopholes. Congress is unlikely to consider the Dellums/Cranston bill until after the October, 1987 deadline for certification that South Africa has complied with conditions for abolishing apartheid set in the current sanctions bill. Hearings on H.R.1580/S.556 are expected during the summer. The Dellums/Cranston bill needs additional co-sponsors immediately; as of May 6, there were 55 House co-sponsors and only 5 Senate co-sponsors. The mailing asks people to urge your Representative and Senators to become co-sponsors. Organize personal visits to your legislators as well; urge your organization or convention to pass a resolution supporting H.R.1580/S.556.
