South Africa’s development assistance paradigm : approach towards Africa

M.A. (Politics)Abstract: South Africa‟s transition to democracy in 1994 is seen as a turning point, in ushering in a new phase of engagement in international development cooperation. The country‟s changing approach to international relations, from destabilisation to reconstruction and development saw South Africa increasingly playing a role in Africa and beyond. In South Africa‟s vision of an „African Renaissance‟, with Africa at the centre of foreign policy, and with comparative advantages and experience in multilateral platforms, Pretoria undertook a role as the „voice of Africa‟ in a number of international platforms. This African-centred approach also underpins South Africa‟s development cooperation agenda. An identity as a provider and a recipient of development assistance has further shaped the development cooperation paradigm and the development of a development agency - South Africa‟s Development Partnership Agency (SADPA). Through qualitative analysis this research examines South Africa‟s evolving development assistance paradigm with a particular focus on the approach towards Africa