In effort to punish south africa for its policies of apartheid, the united nation general assembly adopted a voluntary international oil embargo against south africa on november 20, 1987; that embargo had the support of 130 countries.
Economic sanctions against south africa were also frequently debated as an effective way of putting pressure on the apartheid government. in 1962, the un general assembly requested that its members sever political, fiscal and transportation ties with south africa. In 1968, it proposed ending all cultural, educational and sporting connections as well. Economic sanctions, however, were not made mandatory, because of opposition from south africas main trading partners.
In 1978 and 1983 the United Nations condemned south africa at the world conference against racism, and a significant divestment movement started, pressuring investors to disinvest from South African companies or companies that did business with south africa.
After much debate, by the late 1980s the united states, the united kingdom, and 23 other nations had passed laws placing various trade sanctions on South Africa.