InsideGov
Congress · Laws

South African Democratic Transition Support Act of 1993

Public Law 103-149 · H.R. 3225 · 103rd Congress · began in the House

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Nov 23, 1993 · International Affairs

Sponsor: Rep. Harry Johnston (D-FL-19)

Cosponsors (44): Rep. Donald Payne,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

Report a correction

Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

South African Democratic Transition Support Act of 1993 - Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to U.S. policy towards South Africa.

Repeals specified provisions of the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986, providing for a total repeal of such Act when the President certifies to the Congress that an interim government that was elected on a nonracial basis through free and fair elections has taken office in South Africa.

Urges all State or local governments and private entities in the United States to rescind any restrictions on economic interactions with South Africa.

Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should continue to respect United Nations Security Council resolutions on South Africa.

Authorizes the President to provide development and economic support fund assistance to support the transition to nonracial democracy in South Africa. Prohibits such assistance to the Government of South Africa unless the President certifies to the Congress that an interim government elected on a nonracial basis through free and fair elections has taken office. Exempts from such prohibition assistance to the Transitional Executive Council, South African higher education institutions, and any other entity that would promote the transition to nonracial democracy. Makes organizations that have engaged in armed struggle or other acts of violence ineligible for such assistance unless they are committed to a suspension of violence in the context of progress toward nonracial democracy.

Prohibits assistance to any organization that has espoused views inconsistent with democracy and free enterprise unless the organization is engaged in the process of transition to a nonracial democracy and such assistance would advance U.S. objectives of promoting democracy and free enterprise.

Declares that the President should: (1) negotiate a tax treaty with South Africa; (2) initiate negotiations with the South African Government to provide for Overseas Private Investment Corporation programs in such country; (3) conclude cooperative agreements with South Africa on various issues; and (4) encourage other donors to expand their activities in support of the transition to nonracial democracy.

States that: (1) the Director of the Trade and Development Agency should provide additional funds for projects in South Africa; (2) the Export-Import Bank should expand its activities in connection with exports to South Africa; and (3) the Director of the U.S. Information Agency should use his authorities to promote the transition to nonracial democracy.

Requires the heads of Federal Government agencies, in procuring goods or services, to make affirmative efforts to assist business enterprises having more than 50 percent ownership by nonwhite South Africans.

Declares that the Secretary of the Treasury should instruct the U.S. executive directors of international financial institutions to urge: (1) financial assistance to South Africa to support the transition to democracy; and (2) technical assistance to train South Africans in government management techniques.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

Report a correction

Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 30 actions.

  1. Nov 23, 1993Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 103-149.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Nov 22, 1993PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Nov 20, 1993FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. Nov 19, 1993FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  6. FloorFloor · On passage Passed by voice vote.
  7. FloorFloor · The previous question was ordered without objection.
  8. FloorFloor · Considered by unanimous consent.
  9. FloorFloor · Mr. Johnston asked unanimous consent to discharge the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and consider.
  10. Nov 18, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Ways and Means Committee
  11. Nov 17, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Ways and Means Committee
  12. Nov 15, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Financial Services Committee
  13. Nov 9, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  14. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Trade Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee
  15. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Trade Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee
  16. Nov 4, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Financial Services Committee
  17. Oct 26, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  18. Oct 19, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Domestic and International Monetary Policy Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee
  19. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Domestic and International Monetary Policy Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee
  20. Oct 18, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Domestic and International Monetary Policy Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee
  21. Oct 15, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Foreign Affairs Committee
  22. Oct 13, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Trade Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee
  23. Oct 7, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Foreign Affairs Committee
  24. Oct 6, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Financial Services Committee
  25. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Foreign Affairs Committee
  26. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by International Economic Policy and Trade Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
  27. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Africa Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
  28. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  29. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Ways and Means Committee
  30. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

Report a correction

Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.