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This chapter addresses South Africa’s foreign policy, particularly the relationship between diplomatic, political, security, environmental, economic and regional co-operative dynamics. The chapter highlights the need to ensure that South Africa’s foreign policy-making remains cognisant of global shifts, the stratification of regional groupings, threats to human and state security; and internal/ external sovereignty, and to natural resources.
The chapter defines South Africa’s place in the region, on the continent and in the world over the next 20 – 30 years, and the political space the country will occupy. On the continent, South Africa should improve collaboration and co-operation, through deeper integration and increased trade with its regional trade partners in Africa, and the global south, in general, with particular emphasis on the role that South Africa can play in mediating the role and influence of the BRICS group and African countries. The impending Tripartite Free Trade Area is a significant step towards improved African integration and should be a priority in South Africa’s foreign policies.
The chapter highlights the need to identify regional synergies with SADC and the transformation of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation partly by strengthening the department’s research capabilities and working with South Africa’s research, business and academic institutions. South Africa’s business community must be drawn more closely into our foreign policy making.
The key objectives outlined in the NDP are that:
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Intra-regional trade in Southern Africa should increase from 7 percent of trade to 25 percent of trade by 2030.
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South Africa's trade with regional neighbours should increase from 15 percent of trade to 30 percent.
It is worth noting that South Africa continues to play a key leadership role internationally in the field of disability. This leadership role manifests itself in a variety of fields, including but not limited to:
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Hosting of continental organisations
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Deployment of South African citizens in key international positions
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Representations and participation in key political structures such as the UN, AU and ministerial delegations/sessions.
As a signatory to the CRPD, the country has reporting obligations to the UN and to the AU Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights.
South African citizens with disabilities, civil organisations (CSOs) and private sector play a broad range of roles internationally in the field of disability. These roles include leadership/technical support, sports and recreation, provision of assistive devices to African markets, business and market development, and cultural exchanges.
High-level Indicators on South Africa in the Region and the World
NDP OBJECTIVES
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TARGETS FOR THE DISABILITY SECTOR
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RATIONALE
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BY 2020
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BY 2030
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Chapter 7: Positioning South Africa in the World
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Intra-regional trade in Southern Africa should increase from 7 percent of trade to 25 percent of
trade by 2030
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Person with disabilities, as individual entrepreneurs, SMMES or established businesses, with capacity and resources to increase their contribution to intra-regional trade in Southern Africa (through ownership, employment and procurement opportunities) by 10% over 2010 levels by 2020. This increase contributes to the ultimate target of 18% by 2030.
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Ownership, employment and procurement opportunities benefit people with disabilities by 2020.
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Person with disabilities, as individual entrepreneurs, SMMES or established businesses, with capacity and resources to increase their intra-regional trade (through ownership, employment and procurement opportunities) in Southern Africa by 18% over 2010 levels by 2030.
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The NDP anticipates an 18% increase in intra-regional trade. This will contribute to the achievement of national targets.
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Opportunities will arise from mainly:
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South Africa's penetration of fast growing markets.
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Regional integration strategy that emphasises, rail, road/ port infrastructure, utilisation of financial institutions and cooperation in food/ energy/ water management markets.
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South Africa's trade with regional neighbours should increase from 15 percent of our trade to 30 percent.
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Persons with disabilities, as individual entrepreneurs or in established businesses, cooperatives or partnerships, double their trade or business cooperation with neighbouring countries by 2020.
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Persons with disabilities, as individual entrepreneurs or in established businesses, cooperatives or partnerships, double their trade or business cooperation with neighbouring countries by 2030.
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A high-level, high-impact task team to investigate South Africa's foreign relations to produce definitive studies on:
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South Africa’s national interest, and in the context of African geopolitics
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South Africa’s role in the world, especially in BRICS and in multilateral relations
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The terms of reference, final report and composition of the high-level, high-impact task team to investigate South Africa's foreign relations is disability inclusive and include analysis of AU and SADC disability policy instruments.
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Recommendations of the task team related to disability are implemented as part of South Africa’s foreign policy.
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There is need for South Africa to play a leadership role in the formulation of the Africa Disability Protocol
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South Africa urgently needs a two-pronged decision on migration: a qualitative and quantitative research project on migration into the country
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Comprehensive, cross-disability, multi-national, segregated disability data included as a component in the qualitative and quantitative research project on migration of different population groups of people with disabilities.
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Findings of the qualitative and quantitative research project on migration of of different population groups of people with disabilities implemented.
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Evidence and knowledge of migration patterns among the different population groups of people with disabilities will provide data that is needed for planning at national and regional level.
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