Barth Eide: We must listen to South Africa

On Friday, Eide met South Africa’s new foreign minister, 40-year-old Ronald Lamola, in Pretoria. Lamola belongs to the ANC, which has held government power since the country’s black majority gained the right to vote in 1994.

During the elections in May this year, for the first time in 30 years, the party lost its majority in the National Assembly and had to seek coalition partners.

The government now has a total of seven parties, and President and ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa has a tough job of keeping them together.

Positive development

– The democratic development is positive. It was demanding under President Jakob Zuma, but they have cleaned up a lot since. The ANC has learned to share power, and that is good, says Eide to NTB.

– But this is still one of the world’s most diverse societies. Even though apartheid is over, most blacks still live in townships, while it is mostly whites who live in the nicest houses we drive past, he says.

– There is a long way to go, something they also say themselves, says Eide.

Strong voice

South Africa is not only Africa’s largest economy, but is also an increasingly strong voice globally, notes Eide.

The country has engaged strongly on the side of the Palestinians and has complained to Israel before the UN’s highest legal body, the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

According to South Africa, Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, a charge the ICJ takes seriously and has found reason to pursue.

– We welcome the use of the ICJ, but leave it to the court to assess whether the accusation of genocide is correct, says Eide.

Big ambitions

South Africa’s new coalition government has great ambitions when it comes to renewable energy, and during his visit Eide met several Norwegian companies that have invested in the sector.

Through Norfund, Norway has invested NOK 2.3 billion in renewable energy in South Africa, figures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs show.

This is in line with Norway’s recent Africa strategy, which Eide recently presented. There, the focus shifts from aid to business cooperation and trade.

– This is what the Africans themselves want. We are not saying that we will stop giving aid now, but that the goal in the long term should be that these are countries that can contribute in a more normal way to the world economy, says Eide.

Among other things, he emphasizes the importance of building up industry so that African raw materials can be refined in Africa, which can lay the foundation for economic development.

Social challenges

However, South Africa faces major social challenges, and the security situation is demanding.

– There are now twice as many security guards as employees in the defense and the police combined in this country. This is unhealthy, says Eide.

The World Bank estimates that 55 percent of South Africa’s inhabitants live below the national poverty line.

– The social challenges are enormous, but at the same time South Africa is the most modern economy in Africa. It is a country with great potential, says Eide.