Non-alignment or hypocrisy: South Africa’s non-alignment costing Africa’s human rights discourse
In the past several months, South Africa’s foreign policy has been in the spotlight for essential and existential reasons that significantly impact geopolitics and the continent’s stability.
The foreign policy for South Africa discussion document by the Department of International Relations highlights the “advancement of human rights and the promotion of democracy” as the pillars on which South Africa’s foreign policy rests.
This document emphasizes the role that South Africa is expected to play in the “promotion of human rights and democracy.” Minister Pandor echoed this document in her 2022 end-of-year remarks. “We will continue with our unwavering position to advocate for a balanced Sustainable Development Program within the human rights framework as underlined in the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action (VDPA).
In this regard, South Africa will be one of the chief proponents of a balanced agenda of the HRC, which reflects, among others, the primacy of achieving the realization of the right to development as well as moral human rights issues such as the eradication of poverty and underdevelopment.” South Africa has long been known for its commitment to human rights and its leadership in the fight against apartheid.
