Former ANC policy guru Joel Netshitenzhe has advised that South Africa needs to maintain a “strategic posture” as the balance of power in geopolitics appears to be shifting in favour of China. This comes as the US and China engage in a heated competition for global dominance, with Africa being a key battleground.
Netshitenzhe, who is a former ANC national executive committee member, said South Africa was being targeted by US President Donald Trump’s administration because Pretoria dared heal its divisions of the past. He made these remarks at the eThekwini International Conference Centre recently, where he was commissioned to reflect on the theme “Global power dynamics: whither South Africa?”
Global Power Dynamics
Netshitenzhe said it was clear that the US couldn’t stop China’s ascent to become the world’s largest economy, nor could it stop Beijing’s technological advancement. He cited the example of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has seen significant investment in infrastructure development across Africa. According to the Wikipedia page on the Belt and Road Initiative, the project aims to promote economic cooperation and development among participating countries.
He also referred to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent controversial speech about the West’s dominance over the Global South. Rubio lamented that during the post-1945 period, Western empires experienced a terminal decline, accelerated by anti-colonial uprisings. Netshitenzhe urged the South African government to fully appreciate the country’s and the rest of the continent’s position in the evolving global dynamics.
Key Competitive Advantages
The endowments that South Africa and the rest of the continent have are their key competitive and comparative advantages, Netshitenzhe said. These include minerals for old and new technologies, arable land, the sun and wind for a low-carbon transition, or the demographic dividend. He also noted that intense competition among global powers creates the possibility for Africa to take advantage of the situation.
Some of the key areas where Africa can benefit include:
- Mineral extraction and processing
- Agricultural development and food security
- Renewable energy and low-carbon transition
- Demographic dividend and human capital development
Netshitenzhe said China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the partnerships the US and its allies pursue in Africa must be used as a platform for South Africa to benefit as much as possible. Critical to this is that, as they develop and implement their Africa strategies, African countries should, individually and collectively, negotiate from a position of strength.
