Interrogating South Africa’s Regional and Multilateral Drive in the Context of the SADC

Abstract

Since the advent of multiparty politics in South Africa (SA) in 1994, much of the literature has dwelled on how apartheid forcibly separated people and entrenched elements of racism. However, this paper argues that from 1994 until today, South Africa has involved itself in various multilateral forums (AU, the SADC, COMESA, and NEPAD) within an African context. This paper analyses South Africa’s multilateral relations via the SADC. A qualitative research approach was utilised, and the study relied on secondary sources. The study adopted regional integration theory to elucidate South Africa’s participation in regional international organisations within the context of the SADC. It unpacks both the political and economic intrigues and the development of a robust South African multilateral drive through the prism of the SADC. Notwithstanding its associated criticisms, this paper finds that South Africa has made a significant contribution towards ensuring that the workings of the SADC remain mutually beneficial to both parties