26 July 1991

31st plenary meeting

Activities of transnational corporations in South Africa

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolution 1990/70 of 27 July 1990,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on transnational corporations in South Africa,

Reaffirming the Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa, adopted by the General Assembly at its sixteenth special session, which contains guidelines on how to end apartheid through genuine negotiations,

Noting the evolving situation in South Africa,

Mindful of its obligations towards the complete eradication of apartheid, reaffirmed in General Assembly resolutions 44/244 of 17 September 1990 and 45/176 A of 19 December 1990,

1. Notes the evolving situation in South Africa, including the repeal of the major apartheid laws, and urges the South African regime to incorporate compensatory mechanisms in land reforms in order to make the eradication of apartheid lasting and equitable;

2. Reaffirms that Governments, entrepreneurs and enterprises have comprehensive responsibilities to deny sustenance to the apartheid system;

3. Once again calls on all transnational corporations to stop immediately any operations in South Africa and all forms of trade and economic links with the racist minority regime;

4. Also calls on all multilateral financial and development institutions to cease immediately any kind of support or other form of collaboration with the racist regime in South Africa;

5. Requests the Secretary-General:

(a) In close cooperation with relevant organs of the United Nations, to continue the useful work of collecting and disseminating information on the activities of transnational corporations in South Africa, including the list of transnational corporations still conducting operations there;

(b) To continue preparing studies on the level and form of operation by transnational corporations in South Africa, including their non-equity business arrangements and their involvement in particular sectors of the South African economy, and to prepare an updated study on the responsibilities of home countries with respect to the transnational corporations operating in South Africa in violation of relevant resolutions and decisions of the United Nations;

(c) To continue examining possible contributions of transnational corporations to the construction of a non-racial democratic South Africa in the economic and social fields, taking into account the special need to train black South African entrepreneurs;

(d) To report to the Commission on Transnational Corporations at its eighteenth session, the Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and the Security Council on the implementation of the present resolution.