An investigation into the problems encountered by South Africa in the promotion of the New Partnership for African Development

Abstract

The New Partnership for Africa's Development - NEPAD is the continued search by African people and its leaders to develop Pan African structures that will initiate social and economic transfom1ation in a rapidly globalizing world which continues to marginalize Africa. According to the human indicators of the United Nations Development Programme, Africa remains the poorest continent under the sun. Half of Africa's 875 million people survive on US $ I daily and they have little access to socio - economic infrastructure. South Africa, guided by her foreign policy, which advocates respect for human rights, democracy and economic development, is at the forefront in efforts to promote NEP AD. South Africa's promotion of NEP AD is encouraged by her will to promote the philosophy of African Renaissance, to maintain her prestige in Africa and to assert South Africa's leadership in Africa. Many internal and external problems have been encountered by South Africa whilst promoting NEPAD. Internal problems have been; unemployment, poverty, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, corruption and an excruciating debt. The forces of globalization such as economic marginalisation and the non-representation of South Africa within the multilateral institutions such as the World Trade Organization have presented external problems. NEPAD should develop social policies that complement liberal policies in order to address internal problems such as unemployment and poverty. African governments should not withdraw from being involved in their nation's economies and solely rely on liberal policies for economic capital flows. Lastly,

NEPAD should fight for the restructuring of the multilateral institutions· such as the World Trade Organization.