South Africa, as a full and equal member of the community of
nations, tries for world peace and sound relations with all peace-loving
nations.
Liaison with foreign governments on all matters affecting official
relations is conducted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and
takes place either directly or through foreign representatives
in south Africa, or through South Africa's accredited representatives
abroad.
The objectives of South Africa's foreign policy are, among other
things, to protect the interests of South Africa and South Africans;
to make South Africa a prosperous and rich nation, and to influence
world politics thereby making a contribution to ensuring that
the world is more secure, peaceful, democratic, humane, equitable
and people-centered.
The Department of Foreign Affairs believes that the following
principles are fundamental in achieving South Africa's foreign
policy objectives: the need to ensure security and quality of
life for all South Africans; promotion of the political, economic
and social well-being of southern Africa; constructive and mutually
beneficial all-round interaction with Africa; economic interaction
with the international community; promotion of human rights, democracy
and good governance, as well as issues such as the protection
of the environment, prohibition of arms proliferation, refugee,
and drug-trafficking, arms control, promotion of women, managing
drought, mass migration and the effects of natural disasters.
Since the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela, South Africa
has forged new diplomatic ties with approximately 41 countries,
relations with many other countries have been upgraded, new trade
links have been established and various restrictions have been
lifted. At present, South Africa is a member of approximately
20 international organisations and has relations t various levels
with some 162 countries.
Following South Africa's democratic election in April 1994, pledges of aid were received from around the world. The bulk was aimed at supporting the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) announced by the Government of National Unity (GNU).
The United States of America (US) pledged an assistance package of about R2 000 million to the new Government, to aid it through the transition over the next three years. The US President signed a proclamation designating South Africa as a beneficiary country under the US Generalised System of Preferences (GSP).
The last of the remaining European Union (EU) sanctions against South Africa, namely a ban on trade and on co-operation in the military field, were lifted in May 1994. South Africa was then admitted by the EU as a beneficiary under the EU's GSP.
South Africa received pledges for assistance from various countries and organisarions, such as the US, France, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Norway, Taiwan, Germany, Canada, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Ireland, Australia, Britain, and the African Development Bank.
On 24 September 1994, the Cabinet of the GNU created an interdepartmental committee called the Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee (IDCC) to manage and coordinate foreign official development assistance to South Africa effectively. The IDCC comprises the RDP office, the departments of Finance, Trade and Industry, Foreign Affairs, and State Expenditure, and the South African Reserve Bank and the Central Economic Advisory Service.
South Africa was welcomed back by a large number of international organisations after April 1994 when the GNU took office and is at present a member of approximately 20 such organisations.
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly once more opened its doors to South Africa in 1994 after an absence of 20 years. In May, the UN Security Council lifted the last UN sanctions against South Africa, namely the 1977 arms embargo. South Africa, namely the 1977 arms embargo. South Africa was reaccepted by the UN Development Programe in June 1994 and immediately received approximately R56 million for the development of the country's human resources. The International Organisation for Civil Aviation, the UN watchdog on aviation, also lifted all restrictions on South Africa.
South Africa's international isolation officially ended on 23 June 1994, when the Minister of Foreign Affairs resumed South Africa's seat in the UN General Assembly. On this occasion, the assembly removed the standing item on the elimination of apartheid which had been on the agenda for the past three decades.
The normalisation of the country's relations with the UN now enables South Africa to resume its participation in, and contribution to international organisations, treaties and conventions on issues such as arms control and disarmament, social and humanitarian matters, international security, environmental matters, health, transport, agriculture, cultural and international law and other scientific and technical matters.
In June 1994, South Africa became the 51st member of the Commonwealth after an absence of 33 years. Immediate advantages for South Africa included the facilitation of trade with, and travel to, other member countries, participation in the powerful Commonwealth heads-of-government meetings held every two years, and participation in the Commonwealth Games.
On 31 May, South Africa became a member of the Organisation of African Unity (OUA). President Nelson Mandela was appointed Second Vice-Chairperson and South Africa was appointed to the OAU peacekeeping body.
South Africa is also a member of the Food and Agricultural Organisation, International Telecommunications Union, World Health Organisation, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency of the World Bank, World Metreological Organisation, UN Development Programme, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, The Non-Aligned Movement and Southern African Development Community (SADC).
After the first democratic election in South Africa in April 1994, all sanctions against South Africa were lifted and trade links with the rest of the world were normalised.
In the past five years, South Africa's representation in Africa has doubled and by 1995, it had official relations with 31 African countries. Offices have been opened in 23 of these countries. In the past few years South Africa has established missions in the Ivory Coast, Kenya, Moracco, Madagascar, Mauritius, Botswana, Angola, Gabon, Zambia, Senegal , Egypt, Tunisia, Nigeria, and on a non-residential basis in Rwanda, Congo, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, Cape Verde, the Seychelles and Sudan, Missions have also been opened in Ethiopia, Ghana and Tanzania. Ongoing and friendly meetings with many other African states take place regularly on a less formal level.
During 1994, South Africa was involved in 100 'aid projects' in 25 African states in the fields of agriculture, education, training, small businesses, health care, social welfare, assistance with elections and emergency aid. Twenty-six South African seconded officials were working in six African countries during 1994.
Trade with Africa, excluding members of the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU), increased by more than 15 percent in 1993. If gold sales to the developed world are excluded, Africa, including Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland, accounts for 30 percent of South Africa's merchandise exports - mostly intermediate and final goods such as chemicals, textiles, rubberware, foodstuffs, clothing, vehicles and other machinery.
South Africa imports far less from the rest of the continent than it exports to African countries. However, South Africa is an important market for manufactured products from Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland, for cattle and sheep from Namibia, and for beef from both Namibia and Botswana.
South Africa's attention in Africa is focused mainly on southern Africa, which, together with South Africa, consists of Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia and Mauritius. A number of these countries share South Africa's transport network, manufacturing industry, labour market, scientific and technical expertise, and her capital resources.
Whilst South Africa's TRADE with its neighbours in southern Africa constitutes a relatively small percentage of its total trade with the world, this trade has been growing rapidly over the past few years. However, the current trade pattern between South Africa and subcontinent in unbalanced, as regional imports from South Africa exceeds exports to South Africa by five to one. The RDP therefore states that the Government must develop policies in consultation with its neigbhours to ensure balanced trade.
The government thus endeavors to encourage and promote industrial development throughout the region, in an effort to develop the capacity of South Africa's neighbours to export manufactured goods to south Africa markets. The Government, also encourages technical and scientific co-operation with its neighbours. These objectives are being pursued through active participation at all relevant levels in the activities of the SADC to which South Africa formally acceded in August 1994.
The country's transport system provides a reliable bulk trade link with the outside world for at least six land-locked countries in the region. Located along the 8500 km coastline of the subcontinent are 12 major ports, six in South Africa, one in Namibia, three in Mozambique and two in Angola. Numerous air services provide for the transportation of passengers, mail and cargo between the main business centres in South Africa and other African countries.
The South African labour market, especially the mining industry, provides employment for more than 1,2 million migrant workers - mainly from Lesotho, Mozambique, Botswana and Swaziland.
South Africa's national power utility, Eskom, provides more than 50 percent of the electricity generated on the entire continent of Africa and exports electricity to all neigbbouring countries. South Africa is a natural partner for power utilities in southern and central Africa in the establishment and operation of a power grid which will allow optimal utilisation of the rich energy sources of the subcontinent through the important and export of electricity.
The largest water supply scheme ever undertaken in Africa the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, which is a joint venture of the South Africa and Lesotho governments. The project will also be a source of electricity for Lesotho, which stands to benefit from income generated through the transfer of its surplus water to South Africa.
Instruments fro co-operation have existed between South Africa and its neigbhouring countries for many years. One of these is the SACU. Almost 70 per cent of South Africa's African export trade takes place within the SACU. All member states receive substantial annual revenues from the common customs and excise pool. Other similar arrangements include: the Multilateral Monetary Agreement, the Southern Africa Regional Commission for the Conservation and Utilisation of the Soil (SARCCUS), and the Southern Africa Regional Tourism Council (SARTOC).
Investment, development aid and loans by the South African private sector make a substantial contribution to the economies of many countries in the region. The South African Reserve Bank provides banking services to Lesotho, Swaziland and Namibia which form the Common Monetary Area (CMA) with South Africa. The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) was established to finance economic development projects in southern Africa.
South Africa also renders medical services to other African countries. In any one year, more than 3000 patients from Africa countries receive specialist treatment in South African hospitals. The private sector provides a lifeline of South African medical expertise for countries in the region. These are regular, privately sponsored, visits to Lesotho and Swaziland by teams of South African physicians and nurses.
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