Die rol van die Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference (SADCC) en die Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Suider-Afrika

Abstract

THE ROLE OF THE SADCC AND THE SADC IN SOUTHERN AFRICA The objective of this study is to determine the economic value of the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference (SADCC). The organization was transformed into the Southern African Development Community (SADC} in August 1992 and the future of this organization also forms part of this research. The method used for the acquiring of information was based mainly on a study of literature and visits to competent people in this field of study. The initial based on integration approach of experiences in Africa. the founder members of SADCC was relating to co-operation and This led to SADCC being an organization which is most still exists. in which members participate voluntarily, probably the reason why the organization Since the foundation of SADCC not much results were achieved in terms of the original objectives of the organization. The progress of projects in the growth sectors identified by SADCC is also far from satisfying. The only sector where some form of progress is reported is transport and communication. SADCC countries contributed only 11 percent of the total costs of projects in 1990-91, which clearly indicates that the organization is not viable without external funds. On the positive side SADCC created a suitable environment for growth and development in the region. Changes worldwide, but especially in South Africa, forced SADCC to adopt a new approach for co-operation. With the acceptance of the policy document "SADCC: towards economic integration" in January 1992 and the subsequ8r1t transformation of SADCC into the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in August 1992, SADCC adopted a drastic new approach. This approach represents full scale integration and the establishment of the SADC as a supranational body. The recommendations of this study emphasize the inclusion of the "new South Africa" in co-operation and integration in Southern Africa. In the short term all possibilities of co-operation should get attention to promote growth and development in the region. Existing organizations (SADC, PTA and SACU) should be studied and adaptions made to create an applicable framework for co-operation in the short term and integration in the long term. Southern Africa as a region has a prosperous future if integration can take place according to a framework which is built on the realities of the region.