South Africa’s Foreign Relations Under the New Government – A Coherent Policy in a New Style

New Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola is a rising political force. He is likely to focus more on foreign relations, serving domestic economic issues, while maintaining a lower profile than his predecessor.

After four weeks of tense inter-party negotiations to form a government, South Africa has emerged with a larger and more politically diverse administration.

Its composition is the result of political compromises that reflect both internal divisions between the African National Congress (ANC), which ruled the country alone for 30 years, and the grand coalition of parties that currently forms the executive.

The ANC retained control of key economic ministries, and Enoch Godongwana remained as finance minister, to the relief of investors concerned about efforts by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to gain the position.

Ronald Lamola’s nomination…will likely result in foreign policy being more focused on national economic interests.

The centrist Democratic Alliance (DA), meanwhile, has made a number of changes to ministries that have allowed it to exert some influence, even though it has failed to achieve its goal of forming a representative government with ministerial portfolios allocated based on election results.

The appointment of Ronald Lamola as Minister of International Relations and Cooperation was unforeseen but should be welcomed. His appointment, combined with the constraints introduced by the coalition government, is likely to lead to a foreign policy more focused on national economic interests.

National support for the Palestinians will continue – as exemplified by South Africa’s case against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ). But the DA will seek to soften the pro-Russian stance of some ANC leaders and secure policies more rooted in national economic interests.

The new foreign minister is likely to return to a model of cooperation that prioritizes exerting influence through multilateral forums rather than taking a leading role alone.

Lamola Reset

Lamola’s predecessor, Naledi Pandor, left a significant legacy and helped to renew South Africa’s foreign policy, although this meant she became the face of the country’s controversial stance on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

Pandor exuded a worldliness that was based on principle. Her exile brought her considerable respect and political influence at home and abroad.

She gained popularity across the continent by speaking out against Western bullying and double standards, but she did so in a way that allowed her to maintain diplomatic friendships.

But she was criticised for personalising the country’s foreign policy and pursuing goals or positions that were not in the national interest or at odds with the ruling party, and was said to have at times acted in a way that undermined South Africa’s global network of diplomats and foreign ministry officials.

Related ContentSouth Africa v Israel Genocide Case: The International Court of Justice ExplainsLamola shares few personal traits with his predecessor, but his appointment has been well-received and could usher in an era of lower profile and more pragmatism. He holds a law degree and his political career began when he was 13 in the ANC youth league.

He has been a staunch supporter of President Cyril Ramaphosa, and ran as an outsider at the 2022 ANC party conference, but was unsuccessful, for deputy president.

He ignored attempts to persuade him to resign in the name of party unity, saying the party needed a younger generation fighting for top positions.

The fact that he has not been politically punished for this is evidence of the respect he enjoys at the highest levels of the party, and his appointment as foreign minister at the age of 40 shows that he is a rising star.

Improving the work of the ministry

From 2019 until taking up his new position, Lamola served as Minister of Justice, professionally managing the department and supporting the judicial system – one of the most trusted institutions in the country – at a time when his own party was the main target of lawsuits.

Lamola’s tenure at the Justice Ministry placed him at the centre of South Africa’s case against Israel at the ICJ.

His leadership of the department was often cited as an area of ​​progress in President Ramaphosa’s first term, and his name was regularly mentioned among those who were described as exciting, emerging talents with the potential for future leadership.

Lamola has domestic political roots and is little known abroad outside South Africa observers. But his tenure in the Justice Ministry has put him at the centre of South Africa’s case against Israel at the ICJ.

Politically, it ties him to one area of ​​foreign policy that many South Africans are proud of. Pragmatically, he already has existing relationships with senior officials in the ministry. And the continuation of the respected Alvin Botes as deputy minister means some consistency and experience in the department’s leadership.

Lamola’s ministerial record of competent delivery and departmental leadership will be important to his new role. In keeping with Pandor’s individualistic style, there is a need to reconnect the various elements of the department – ​​and other ministries with international portfolios – and to leverage his skills and expertise, which includes a training programme in economic diplomacy.

Because policies now have to be agreed upon by a broad spectrum of interests among the ruling parties, there will be much less opportunity to push a party line, and more pragmatism will be needed.

Leveraging multi-stakeholder initiatives

South Africa is a strong advocate of multilateralism. The country’s ability to independently project its influence abroad is limited – it has limited military and diplomatic capabilities compared to other middle or emerging powers.

Multilateral initiatives, including the BRICS group, offer opportunities for South Africa to build relationships and achieve consensus on priority issues such as global governance reform and the Global South.

Related ContentNew coalition government in South Africa announces changes for the region and its leadersThey also provide platforms for exercising their principles on issues where they feel they have moral authority – as seen in the case of MTS. They have managed to exert significant influence with limited resources.

The foreign policy consensus that emerges from the coalition will be broadly consistent with the previous administration. Its new foreign secretary takes over the office with a smaller international profile than his predecessor but with a reputation for encouraging departmental efficiency.

Lamola now has a year at the helm of the ministry before South Africa hosts the G20 in 2025. The summit will give the government, which embodies political compromise, an opportunity to promote issues it cares about, such as green finance and fair reform of global economic governance.