Gauteng Province Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced on Wednesday that there would be no policy shift in South Africa’s government of national unity (GNU). Speaking at the Beijing-South Africa business cooperation promotion conference in Johannesburg, Lesufi, from the African National Congress (ANC), emphasised the stability of South Africa’s foreign policy, particularly its relationship with China.
The event saw a delegation from the Beijing Sub-Council of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) engaging with South African businesses to explore collaborative opportunities. Lesufi assured attendees that the current government’s policies would remain consistent despite the recent formation of the GNU.
“There would be no policy change in the GNU and the relations with China will be strengthened. The economic opportunities will be accelerated. No one will pull us out of BRICS; we will be part of BRICS forever, even if there is a change of government. China is a dependable partner,” stated Lesufi.
Highlighting his recent visit to China, Lesufi expressed admiration for the country’s safety measures and expressed a desire to replicate them in South Africa. He noted that Gauteng province has already installed 19,000 street cameras and plans to increase this number to 80,000 with China’s assistance to enhance security for investors and tourists.
“We want China to help us tackle crime. We want to introduce the technology you have in China to fight crime. We want China to help us rejuvenate and repurpose our central business district. We want Johannesburg to compete with Beijing and Dubai,” Lesufi added.
South Africa is currently developing a smart city in Johannesburg, and Lesufi believes cooperation with China will be pivotal in achieving this goal. He also mentioned the country’s reliance on China for infrastructural development, high-speed trains, and addressing energy shortages.
The formation of the GNU follows the May 29 elections, which did not yield an outright winner with the required 51 percent of the vote. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to announce a Cabinet that will include officials from various political parties.
Siphamandla Zondi, a professor of politics and international relations at the University of Johannesburg, echoed Lesufi’s sentiments, stating that there would be no foreign policy shift within the GNU. He highlighted the expectation that the coalition partners would act in the national interest.
