Minister Nkoana-Mashabane on regional integration, BRICS, and Rwanda

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, delivered what she termed her post State of the Nation Address (SONA) foreign policy briefing to the media.

Much of her speech looked at South Africa’s involvement with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU), and finding “African solutions to African problems” with regards to conflict resolution and peace efforts on the African continent.

She went on to make special mention of South Africa’s time as a non-permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, where “one of our biggest achievements was the adoption by the United Nations Secretary-General of the resolution of 2033” in 2012. Initiated by South Africa, the resolution was based on formalising, promoting and strengthening the UN Security Council’s cooperation with regional organisations, in particular the AU’s Peace and Security Council.

As well as strengthening regional integration and boosting intra-Africa trade, the Minister said that South Africa had taken great strides in fostering strong South-South relations, namely through their involvement in the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) grouping, which comprises of emerging national economies.

While she didn’t single out many countries, Nkoana-Mashabane mentioned that South Africa has “continued to contribute to capacity building and development of South Sudan”, adding that President Zuma’s Special Envoy to the country, Cyril Ramaphosa will be working closely with the people of South Sudan “on reconciliation and other political matters”.

However, journalists who attended the briefings, either physically in Pretoria or via video link up in Cape Town, were more interested in our current strained relations with Rwanda. Following allegations by Justice and Constitutional Development Minister, Jeff Radebe, that there have been attacks by gunmen against exiled critics of Rwandan President Kagame on South African soil, Rwanda expelled six South African diplomats last week.

The Minister answered: “South Africa will not tolerate any acts of criminality or lawlessness... we will act decisively if law enforcement agencies identify any wrong doing from any individual from around the world. We were unemotional... we had informed the Rwandan government... I am appealing to all of us to remain calm and allow the law enforcement agencies to do their work”.