Many may have forgotten, given all that has unfolded in South Africa since the early years of our post- apartheid democracy, but significant pressure was placed on our founding President, Nelson Mandela, particularly by the US and China, regarding his stance on various issues.
Each time, Mandela stood his ground, firmly asserting South Africa’s independence.
This is the kind of leadership with a backbone that ActionSA believes must return if we are to shape an independent foreign policy guided by our own interests.
History shows that the Americans were famously dissatisfied with Mandela hosting Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi at his inauguration following the historic 1994 elections.
As if that was enough, the Chinese were also notably unhappy with Mandela’s decision to…
