WI: Early 80's both Britain and US put sanctions on South Africa?

Ismail

Banned
Or, alternatively, just the US. By "sanctions" I mean strong stuff, with the intention of getting South Africa to end apartheid.

What would the consequences be? I'd assume one big consequence would be that the ANC, which was seen by the government as a communist group, would be treated with no mercy by the Botha Administration and the ANC in turn would take a radical posture. The United Democratic Front would probably either not form or, if it does form, becomes less significant than IRL as both the government and ANC refuse to negotiate and as South Africa descends into significantly more bloodshed than IRL.
 
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You'd probably need a Labour/Alliance government in Britain - there was very little enthusiasm in the Conservative Party for imposing sanctions and not enough political pressure from *their kind of people* to do so.
 

Ismail

Banned
True, but what would the effects be?

Also if the US did it first it is possible that Britain, Conservative or not, could be pressured into doing it.
 
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