Imposing dependence: South Africa's manipulation of regional railways

Abstract

This paper examines one aspect of economic interdependence within southern Africa: transport. The transport network is the major area of economic contact and conflict between South Africa and the states belonging to the Southern African Development Co‐ordination Conference (SADCC). The evolution and the nature of the varying levels of interdependence within the transport sector, in both space and time, are examined. Focus is concentrated upon the different regional policies adopted by Pretoria, together with their geopolitical objectives, and how they have influenced southern Africa's transport network. SADCC considers transport to be the key to economic liberation whilst South Africa remains determined to enhance its structural and economic control over the transport infrastructure of the region in order to achieve political objectives. Hence, transport has important strategic implications and is at present being used within southern Africa as a tactical economic weapon.