When former South African President, Jacob Zuma, declared that his party would rule in perpetuity, or in his own words, “until Jesus comes”, he expressed a view which was held by the majority of rational South Africans. Indeed, African National Congress (ANC) rule has never actually been up for debate since 1994.
The electoral performance of the ruling party has always been staggering and relatively unchallenged. This one-party dominance has meant that South African policy has been synonymous with ANC policy, often in a way that is uncommon in most multiple party democracies.
In the upcoming general election, however, the prospect of a change of government brings into focus the prospect of a different policy approach in South Africa. Chief among these changes is the realm of foreign policy.
In recent times, a key component of South African foreign policy has been its BRICS membership. The economic bloc and SA’s part in its growth in size and influence has been a source of pride for the ruling party, who have often cited this as one of their achievements. Opposition parties, most notably the Democratic Alliance (DA), have raised concerns about BRICS’ leaning towards authoritarian states such as Iran and China in contradiction of South African democratic values.
Even so, rationality has trumped ideology as it pertains to their approach to this issue. At their federal congress, DA members voted resoundingly against withdrawing from BRICS should they take over the reins of government. Other like-minded parties such as ActionSA have resolved similarly. The likes of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) firmly and unquestionably favour continued South African participation in BRICS. Membership in intergovernmental organisations such as the African Union (AU), Southern African Development Community (SADC) and others also remains uncontested.
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The Israel-Palestine issue is one foreign policy question which strongly divides South African political parties. In the events following the Hamas attack on the Israeli State on the 7th of October, opinions have ranged from standing with the Palestinian people against the genocide being inflicted on them to asserting that Israel has the right to defend itself by all means.
Perhaps the most extreme opposite positions of the spectrum on this issue are occupied by the EFF and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) respectively. The EFF supports the Palestinian resistance to the point of asserting that Hamas, an organisation deemed a terrorist organisation by multiple states, is a genuine political force with a justified reason to do what they did on October 7th onwards. The FF+ echoes the Apartheid-era rhetoric of standing with the Israelis regardless of what the latter is doing in its effort to defend itself; the party has even called Hamas a terrorist organisation without fear of contradiction.
Other political parties, notedly the ANC and DA have taken a more centrist stance on the issue; with the former leading efforts by our government to take Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for genocide, while the latter has repeatedly called for our government to work for peace instead of what it deems to be taking sides. Overall, positive views of Israeli conduct in the war is in the minority, a key indicator that the next government, no matter who it is, will not reverse the ANC’s actions so far.
Relations with the western world is another major component of South African foreign policy. To the ANC’s credit, they have balanced South Africa’s relations with this bloc of nations while not assuming the role of slave nor adversary. Membership of BRICS is seen as the building block in the construction of a multipolar world in opposition to the hegemonic influence, economic or otherwise, of the west. This is to be lauded.
On the other hand, South Africa’s position on two wars, Russia-Ukraine and the one in Gaza, have caused friction with western nations, most notably the United States. This kind of friction, often emanating from ignorant attempts by the west to dictate South African foreign policy, are seen as inevitable by the likes of the EFF who have contended that the best course of action would be to sever ties completely. The more moderate voices, like the DA, have called for a balancing of ties in moreless the same fashion which the ANC has done for years. The political parties located further right of the political spectrum would prefer increased ties with the west, even at the expense of the BRICS project, but dissent on that position has emerged even from within their own ranks.
It is fair to say that the position of the next government on our western relations might shock us.
Regardless of who occupies the Union Buildings, and by conjunction DIRCO HQ, post May 2024, I believe that a majority of South Africans would like to see, above all things, a stronger South Africa at home and abroad. How we get there will depend on the government, but rationality will have to trump ideology, which we have already seen from our political parties to a certain degree.
~ written by Neo Malebana, Public Administration student at the University of Pretoria.
