Many events during the Apartheid regime led up to the increase of international pressure in the 1980’s. Events such as the Sharpeville massacre in 1960, the Soweto Uprising of 1976 and many other occurrences, brought attention to the injustice in South Africa, creating greater awareness for the international public. International pressure also increased during the 1980s due to the economic struggles of South Africa, from internal and external forces, which in turn had an effect on the global economy. All of these factors, had a large impact on bringing about the end of Apartheid.

A large part of the international pressure increasing in South Africa in the 1980s is due to the increased exposure of the injustices in Apartheid South Africa, internationally circulating photographs of the violence against the youth who powered the resistance movement, protesting for democracy, for example, the Soweto Student Uprising in 1976. The increased media exposure caused an outcry with the international public, who felt very strongly about creating a stop to the Apartheid regime, as they thought the treatment of black citizens was unfair and unjust according to the Apartheid policies. It was the influence and involvement of the international public that caused foreign countries to rethink their stance and put pressure on Apartheid South Africa to change their policies.

In 1977, an Anti-Apartheid activist, Steve Biko was killed after police arrest, torture and some time in prison. His