South Africa’s political landscape has changed dramatically since the African National Congress (ANC) lost its parliamentary majority on 29 May, compelling it to form a Government of National Unity (GNU). This new political reality could have far-reaching implications for the country’s international relations over the next five years.The recent appointment of Ronald Lamola as Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) may signal that the broad contours of South Africa’s foreign policy will remain unchanged. International relations will continue to be guided by the Constitution and underpinned by the ANC’s ideological adherence to Pan-Africanism and progressive internationalism.However, questions concerning the nature and trajectory of South African foreign policy under the coalition government may be far trickier to determine.
The issue is that the Democratic Alliance, a major part of the new coalition, follows a much more mainstream European Union-type policy for Israel. As they wrote in November:
The Democratic Alliance (DA) stands in solidarity with both Palestinians and Israelis who seek a two-state solution. The DA stands against radicalism and violence. We reject any sentiment that seeks to annihilate either Israel or Palestine. We embrace rationality based on peaceful co-existence for both a secure Israel and a free Palestinian state. We embrace the right of both Palestinians and Israelis to statehood and sovereignty....
In Palestine, radicalism is represented by Hamas. The DA, along with most of the world, regards Hamas as a terrorist organisation opposed to peace and to a two-state solution. We condemn the recent comments by the leader of Hamas threatening ongoing repeats of the 7 October terrorist attacks on Israel. Part of the path to peace involves eliminating Hamas’ capacity to utilise Gaza as a staging ground for terror attacks and as a supply base for its militants.
This position is already upsetting the pro-Hamas factions in South Africa. One op-ed rails against calling Hamas a terrorist group, insulting the DA by calling it the worst possible insult, "Zionist."
The antisemitic ANC still controls the Foreign Ministry so we cannot expect any major changes in the near future.But the DA might mitigate some of the most obscene, pro-terror positions we've seen from South Africa.
|
Or order from your favorite bookseller, using ISBN 9798985708424. Read all about it here! |
|
