Sustainability by Design: Assessment Tool for Just Energy Transition Plans
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1. Overview of South Africa’s
Foreign Policy
Presentation by the Department
of Foreign Affairs
June 2007
2. SA’s Foreign Policy (FP)
• SA’s FP has a dialectical link with the
country’s domestic priorities.
• SA’s FP incorporates economic
diplomacy within the context of the
Accelerated & Shared Growth Initiative
for South Africa (ASGISA).
3. SA’s FP Cont…
• SA’s commitment to the creation of an
African continent that is prosperous,
peaceful, democratic, non-racial, non-
sexist and united, which contributes to a
world that is just and equitable.
4. SA’s FP Cont…
• What we strive to achieve for our country
is what we also strive to achieve for
Africa, countries of the South and for the
global community.
5. SA’s FP Cont…
• Our FP is guided by the vision of “A
Better SA, A Better Africa & A Better
World.”
6. SA’s FP: Principles
• That the interests of the African continent are
central in our foreign policy;
• That issues of human rights are central to
international relations & an understanding
that they extend beyond the political,
embracing the economic, social and
environment;
7. SA FP: Principles Cont…
• That just and lasting solutions to the problems
of humankind can only come through the
promotion of democracy world-wide;
• That consideration of justice and respect for
international law should guide the relations
between & among nations;
8. SA FP: Principles Cont…
• That peace is the goal for which all nations
should strive, and that conflicts should be
resolved through non-violent means;
• That multilateralism informs our interactions
in the global sphere; &
9. SA FP: Principles Cont…
• That economic development depends on
growing regional and international economic
integration and cooperation in an
interdependent world.
10. SA’s Approach in the Implementation
of its Foreign Policy
• Deepening of Bilateral relations; &
• Participation in Multilateral Institutions
11. SA’s FP: Priorities
• Consolidation of the African Agenda;
• South-South Cooperation;
• North-South Dialogue;
• Global Security;
• Global Governance;
The above priorities are pursued within a
globalised world.
12. Globalisation
• Globalisation has become a predominant
force in international relations;
• It is creating immense opportunities of
growth & wealth creation for some, whilst
producing an abundance of poverty for
millions of others;
• Africa has benefited less & has suffered
most from globalisation;
13. Globalisation Cont…
• SA’s view is that the path of
globalisation must change;
• The challenge is to develop a strategy
through integration & cooperation
between & among the countries of the
South to make the global agenda
relevant to their needs
14. Consolidation of the African
Agenda (CAA)
– CAA entails the strengthening of the African
Union (AU), its structures & the
implementation of NEPAD; Pan African
Parliament, ECOSSOC, PSC & PCRD.
– Southern African Development Community
(SADC), foundation for SA’s regional,
continental & international engagements;
15. African Agenda Cont…
SADC’s Targets:
• The formation of a Free Trade Area by 2008;
• The completion of negotiations of the SADC
Customs Union by 2010;
• The completion of negotiations of the SADC
Common Market by 2015;
16. African Agenda Cont…
• Diversification of industrial structures and
exports with more emphasis on value addition
across all economic sectors by 2015;
• Sustain export growth rate of at least 5%
annually;
18. African Agenda Cont…
– Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of
Persons in SADC;
– SADC Customs Union;
– Gender Declaration;
– SADC Brigade
19. African Agenda Cont…
SADC Challenges:
– Effective implementation of the Regional
Indicative Strategic Development Plan
(RISDP);
– Effective implementation of the Strategic
Indicative Programme for the Organ on
Politics, Defense & Security Cooperation
(SIPO);
20. African Agenda Cont…
– AU’s Post Conflict Reconstruction &
Development Policy (PCRD);
– SA participation to the United Nations
Peace Missions: Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC), Ethiopia-Eritrea & Liberia;
22. African Agenda Cont…
– AU Government: Towards A United States of
Africa;
– Bilateral Relations within Africa: 43
Missions;
– SA’s increase in trade opportunities;
23. Challenges to the African
Agenda…
• Lack of coordination by SA’s departments in
PCRD;
• Perceptions of SA as a hegemon in Africa;
• Lack of capacity to beneficiate African
resources
• SA’s business conduct within the Continent; &
• Scramble for Africa’s natural resources;
24. South-South Cooperation (SSC)
– SSC is a strategy to address the
challenges of economic & political
marginalisation of the South;
– SA’s participation to the Non-Aligned
Movement, G77 + China, China-Africa
Forum, India-Brazil-South Africa
Dialogue Forum & New Asia-Africa
Strategic Partnership;
25. SSC Cont…
• South-South formations are critical as vehicles
for socio-economic development;
• Increased interaction with Latin America &
the Diaspora;
26. North-South Dialogue
• Premised on the notion of forging
partnerships & bringing about peace,
security and development in the South;
• Aimed at making substantial progress
towards achieving the UN MDGs
27. North-South Dialogue Cont…
SA-EU Strategic Partnership Joint Action
Plan;
The EU & Africa: Towards a Strategic
Partnership;
Expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation to Africa;
US Africa Command (AFRICOM)
28. Global Security
–Uni-polar World (US Hegemony);
–Challenge to the uni-polar by the
emergence of a multi-polar world;
–Middle East Peace Process;
–Iraq;
29. Global Security Cont…
–Iran Nuclear Stand off;
–North Korea;
–Terrorism; &
–SA’s Chairperson of the Nuclear
Suppliers Group (2007-8)
