Regional security in southern Africa: South Africa's national perspective

Abstract

South Africa has re‐emerged into the international forum as a strong leader in Southern Africa and as a potential leader in the international system. Following its first democratic elections in April 1994, South Africa began to transform its security forces in order to reflect fully the make‐up and constitution of its society, and the new norms which will govern it. These changes in policy have been reflected in the transformation of the South African National Defence Force, Police Service, National Intelligence Agency and Secret Service. At the same time, such changes have reflected on South Africa's policies towards its neighbours with whom it is no longer in confrontation but co‐operation. There are, however, several remaining areas of concern, including continued political violence (in particular in KwaZulu‐Natal province) and implications of covert paramilitary activity, the regional arms trade policy of South Africa, and an apparent lack of leadership within the government by the Department of Foreign Affairs on issues relating to foreign and security policies. This is especially crucial at a time when South Africa is assessing its potential role in regional and international peace‐support operations. Thus all of these issues and areas must be examined in order to understand the emerging direction that the country is taking with regard to its security policies, and the roles and norms under which its new security forces will be required to operate nationally, regionally and internationally.