South Africa s foreign policy under Zuma towards greater strategic partnerships

This research paper evaluates South Africa's foreign policy under President Jacob Zuma, contrasting his approach with that of his predecessors. It highlights a shift toward strategic partnerships with emerging powers, specifically China and the BRICS grouping, while noting a decline in domestic human rights adherence and strained relations with the West.

• Under President Zuma, South Africa significantly deepened its relationship with China, upgrading it to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) during Zuma's first state visit in 2010. China became South Africa's largest trade partner, though this relationship is characterized by a trade imbalance; as of October 2017, South Africa had a 9.2% trade deficit with China.
• South Africa's admission into the BRICS grouping in 2011 is cited as a major achievement of the Zuma administration. This membership allowed South Africa to act as a mediator and influencer, drive the creation of the New Development Bank (NDB) launched in July 2014, and establish the African Regional Centre (ARC) to finance sustainable infrastructure.
• The Zuma administration's commitment to human rights was undermined by domestic events and international legal disputes. The August 2012 Marikana Massacre, where police killed 34 mineworkers, is described as a permanent stain on the country's record. Additionally, the government attempted to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) after failing to detain Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in 2015, though the Pretoria high court blocked this withdrawal in February 2017.
• Relations with the United States deteriorated during the Zuma era. Tensions peaked in 2015 when President Barack Obama threatened to rescind duty-free access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) due to South African anti-dumping duties on US chicken. The document notes that under the Trump administration, the US ambassador position to South Africa remained vacant, signaling further deterioration.
• While South Africa remained active in African peacekeeping—including deployments in Burundi, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—the Zuma administration is criticized for less involvement in strengthening governance institutions like the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) compared to the Mbeki era.
• Recurring xenophobic violence, including attacks in 2008 and 2015 and an anti-foreigners march in Pretoria in February 2017, has damaged South Africa's continental leadership. The document notes that the government's denial of these acts as xenophobic strained relations with other nations, specifically Nigeria, which recalled its ambassador after the 2015 attacks.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2018). South Africa s foreign policy under Zuma towards greater strategic partnerships. https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africa-s-foreign-policy-under-zuma-towards-greater-strategic-partnerships/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. South Africa s foreign policy under Zuma towards greater strategic partnerships. 2018. https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africa-s-foreign-policy-under-zuma-towards-greater-strategic-partnerships/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=South Africa s foreign policy under Zuma towards greater strategic partnerships |date=22 February 2018 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africa-s-foreign-policy-under-zuma-towards-greater-strategic-partnerships/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2018south, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{South Africa s foreign policy under Zuma towards greater strategic partnerships}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2018}, month = feb, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africa-s-foreign-policy-under-zuma-towards-greater-strategic-partnerships/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }