Is South Africa Living Up to Its Responsibility as Africa's Leader? An Online Debate

Discussants: Francis Kornegay & Tom Wheeler

South Africa, the African continent’s richest country, is also its most influential. President Thabo Mbeki mediated conflicts in Burundi and Congo, and propelled the creation of the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa ’s Development. Yet South Africa has come under fire for its policy of “quiet diplomacy” toward neighboring Zimbabwe, where President Robert Mugabe presides over an unraveling economy and has increasingly resorted to violence to maintain power. Some also criticize the South African government’s recent actions on the UN Security Council and its HIV/AIDS policy.

Two South Africans—Francis Kornegay, a senior researcher at the Center for Policy Studies in Johannesburg, and Tom Wheeler, a research fellow at the South African Institute of International Affairs—debate whether South Africa is living up to its responsibility as Africa’s leader.

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Comments

[Ebonylad]

Not at all.The question of Zimbabwe where civil liberty is in hell has exposed SA as not politically influencial to help institute democracy even in her nearest neighbour.Where else can we evaluate its values when crimes and STDs pose another social embarrassment in post Mandela SA.