Friend or foe? Foreign policy takes centre stage
South Africa’s preparations for the 15th Brics Summit in August, which the country is hosting, have been overshadowed by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the warrant of arrest it issued for one of the expected attendees, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, on charges of war crimes. Domestic and foreign critics have accused Pretoria of being much too cosy with Moscow, notwithstanding official assurances that South Africa is neutral in the Russia/Ukraine conflict, and Washington’s ambassador to the country caused a diplomatic storm in May when he claimed that South Africa had supplied Russia with weapons. Denials have since given way to a diplomatic charm offensive with South African officials trying to temper the concerns of the country’s Western partners, who account for much of its trade, and its Brics partners, who are poised to welcome new members.
A peace initiative spearheaded by President Cyril Ramaphosa saw several heads of state travel with him to Ukraine and Russia on a ‘peace mission’ in June, but the initiative was undermined by lukewarm support, logistical issues, and a generally cold reception by the warring sides. Mr Ramaphosa will be joining numerous African heads of state at the upcoming Russia-Africa Summit in St Petersburg before returning home to lay out the red carpet for visiting Brics heads of state (with the exception of Mr Putin, who will not be attending).
Deputy President Paul Mashatile finds himself in the public spotlight, but not for the reasons he would have hoped. The man who deputises for Mr Ramaphosa at the Union Building but also at the headquarters of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) has had his lavish lifestyle choices – and past – scrutinised. The question on everyone’s lips seems to be: who is Paul Mashatile, the man who would be president?
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