26 July 1985

52nd plenary meeting

Activities of transnational corporations in South Africa and Namibia and their collaboration with the racist minority regime of South Africa

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling Security Council resolution 560 (1985) of 12 March 1985,

Recalling also General Assembly resolution 39/72 of 13 December 1984, in particular resolution 39/72 G on concerted international action for the elimination of apartheid,

Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the activities of transnational corporations in South Africa and Namibia and their collaboration with the racist minority regime of South Africa,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the activities of transnational corporations in South Africa and Namibia and their collaboration with the racist minority regime in that area and the report of the Secretariat on the responsibilities of home countries with respect to the transnational corporations operating in South Africa and Namibia in violation of the relevant resolutions and decisions of the United Nations,

Noting with grave concern the deterioration of the situation in South Africa as evidenced by the recent increased brutality, indiscriminate killings and mass arrest of innocent persons, including children, by the authorities of the racist minority regime of South Africa,

Regretting that the inflows of foreign direct investment to South Africa have risen significantly in recent years,

Affirming the need for intensified action at the international level by all Governments and non-governmental organizations including trade unions, academic institutions, parliamentarians and public officials in various countries,

1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the activities of transnational corporations in South Africa and Namibia and their collaboration with the racist minority regime in that area, in particular the list of transnational corporations operating in that area, and the report of the Secretariat on the responsibilities of home countries with respect to the transnational corporations operating in South Africa and Namibia in violation of the relevant resolutions and decisions of the United Nations;

2. Condemns the racist minority regime of South Africa and its brutal perpetuation of the inhuman system of apartheid and the illegal occupation of Namibia;

3. Reaffirms that the activities of transnational corporations in South Africa reinforce the racist minority regime in its perpetuation of the system of apartheid and its illegal occupation of Namibia;

4. Notes with appreciation of the actions of those non-governmental organizations and academic institutions that have exerted pressure for disinvestment of their assets on transnational corporations collaborating with the racist minority regime and of the proposals for legislative and other regulatory measures put forward by some parliamentarians and other public officials in various countries with a view to terminating the activities of transnational corporations in South Africa and Namibia, and requests the Secretariat to transmit the text of the present resolution to all such organizations, parliamentarians and public officials;

5. Welcomes as a positive first step the measures taken by certain home countries of transnational corporations to place restrictions on further investments in South Africa and on bank loans to the racist minority regime;

6. Urges all transnational corporations to terminate their investments in South Africa and to end all forms of collaboration with the racist minority regime;

7. Reaffirms Security Council resolution 301 (1971) of 20 October 1971, in which the Council called upon States to abstain from entering into economic relations with South Africa in respect of Namibia and declared that rights, titles or contracts granted to individuals or corporations by South Africa after the termination of the mandate were not subject to protection or espousal by their States against the claims of a future lawful Government of Namibia;

8. Invites all States, non-governmental organizations and all transnational corporations operating in South Africa and Namibia to co-operate with the United Nations in organizing public hearings on the activities of transnational corporations in South Africa and Namibia so as to facilitate the conduct of fair, objective and balanced hearings on the activities of transnational corporations with regard to the topics set out in Council resolution 1982/70 of 27 October 1982;

9. Requests the Secretary-General:

(a) To continue the useful work of the Secretariat on the activities of transnational corporations in South Africa and Namibia through the collection and dissemination of information;

(b) To provide more detailed information on the profiles of transnational corporations operating in South Africa and Namibia;

(c) To update, for submission to the Commission on Transnational Corporations at its twelfth session, the report of the Secretary-General on the activities of transnational corporations in South Africa and Namibia and the report of the Secretariat on the responsibilities of home countries with respect to the transnational corporations operating in South Africa and Namibia in violation of the relevant resolutions and decisions of the United Nations.