South Africa’s Leadership Role in Africa: A Critical Appraisal

South Africa made history in 1994 with its successful transition from apartheid to democratic majority rule. Building on this success, and the stature of Nelson Mandela, its first President, the country's profile grew globally. The expectation that the country would do more to stabilize the African continent also grew. The country, in its foreign policy, and discourses relating to its international relations has sought to situate Africa as a priority, with clear understanding that a stable, prosperous continent means a more prosperous South Africa. The African Renaissance and New Partnership for Arica's Development (NEPAD), promoted by Pretoria represent a vision of Africa, which is stable, prosperous and espousing progressive values of democracy, human rights, rule of law and good governance. South Africa has been active in many conflicts in Africa, trying to find peaceful solutions to these conflicts. It has deployed its military in the Kingdom of Lesotho and many diplomatic efforts deployed in many countries in conflict. Some of these interventions have not been received well, with some states and scholars accusing Pretoria of promoting its commercial and geostrategic interests. This study seeks to explore the leadership motivations for South Africa in the continent and whether Pretoria deploys its diplomatic and military resources in pursuit of its commercial agenda while packaging this in 'Africanist' discourses. In the study, I look at the actual interventions to try to analyze the real motives of Pretoria. My main argument is that Pretoria, despite the value laden altruistic construction of its foreign policy, actually adopts a realist approach to its relations with countries of the continent, identifying and pursuing its interests.