Politics
From The Report: South Africa 2012
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South Africa is a parliamentary representative democratic republic, wherein the elected president exercises executive power and acts as both head of state and head of government. Legislative power is wielded by both the government and two chambers of parliament, the National Assembly (the lower house) and the Council of Provinces (the upper house). The judiciary operates as an independent arm of government. South Africa is a multi-party democracy with about 80 political parties, 13 of which are currently represented in the National Assembly. The ANC has dominated the electoral landscape since the first democratic elections of 1994, while the Democratic Alliance (DA) is the country’s official opposition party, with 67 seats in the current parliament.

This chapter contains interviews with President Jacob Zuma; Fernando Damata Pimentel, Brazilian Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade; and Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Development.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Democracy in transition: In less than two decades, the country has become one of the most significant and successful on the African continent
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Just 18 years ago South Africa was a divided state, emerging from the shadow of apartheid and decades of political isolation to become Africa’s newest democracy. The years since have been marked by both struggle and triumph. While the hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 2010 was a spectacular demonstration of national progress, South Africa faces many political challenges as it continues along its path of transformation. In facing them, though, the country has the advantage of some of the most…

Interview

A valued partner: OBG talks to President Jacob Zuma
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What are the tangible benefits of South Africa’s membership in the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) bloc? ZUMA: We understand that our role in BRICS is to find ways to underwrite and strengthen the huge recent improvements in the economic performance of both Africa and South Africa. As the African participant in BRICS we feel South Africa’s role as a catalyst for growth in the continent is recognised by the most dynamic economies in the world. This is very important.…

Viewpoint

Fernando Damata Pimentel, Brazilian Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, on common interests and influences shared between Brazil and South Africa
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Brazil and South Africa’s trade relations in the recent past have signalled the possibility of new deeper partnerships. Bilateral trade increased from $659m in 2002 to $2.6bn in 2011. In the future, we want to improve relations with South Africa to create more business opportunities and reinforce the protection of new common interests through the global forums that deal with imperative issues on the international agenda. Ties between the two nations were established recently and during…

Analysis

A century of service: The ANC’s 100th anniversary has highlighted both successes and continued challenges
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On January 8, 2012 the African National Congress (ANC) gathered in Bloemfontein, the capital city of Free State Province, to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Addressing the crowd, which filled the stadium with a noise and colour redolent of the FIFA World Cup events successfully staged there in 2010, President Jacob Zuma announced the fulfilment of an old ANC ambition. “The 1942 ANC conference passed a resolution that the ANC should have a million members by the time it celebrated its centenary.…

Analysis

International visibility: Greater prominence on a dynamic global stage
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In March 2010 Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, South Africa’s minister of international relations and cooperation, announced that her department was working on a new strategy framework for the country’s foreign policy. This in itself was not novel; the Department of Foreign Affairs – renamed the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in 2007 – has published a series of such documents since the mid-1990s, usually outlining strategic plans in three-year tranches. However, while the…

Interview

OBG talks to Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Development
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Interview: Andris Piebalgs How has the economic crisis in Europe affected economic relations with South Africa? ANDRIS PIEBALGS: Luckily, the crisis has not had a big impact. In 2011 EU-South Africa trade grew by more than 10% to €43bn, and has recovered to its 2007 pre-crisis levels. The EU is still South Africa’s most important trade partner, and trade flows have remained remarkably resilient. Trade with the EU still represents more than that of China and the US combined. Our development…