[3] The event was boycotted by two teams, Ligier and Renault, owing to mounting international pressures against tolerating the country's system of apartheid.

A state of emergency had been declared by the South African government in July due to growing civil unrest nationwide, and French teams Ligier and Renault's boycotts were in lockstep with the French government's boycott and sanctioning of South Africa,[4] apparently doing so under pressure.

[7] Finland and Sweden held similar reservations regarding Finn Keke Rosberg and Swede Stefan Johansson competing.

[8] Multiple sponsors also ordered teams to remove their branding from cars they backed, most notably Marlboro and Beatrice Foods.

Officially Jones cited illness as to why he did not race, but it was widely rumored at the time that Beatrice ordered the team to boycott.

Ecclestone described how Beatrice were under pressure in the US from activists such as Jesse Jackson not to race, under threats including strike action by African Americans working in their businesses.