ABSTRACT

South Africa (SA) is presently undergoing an enormously complex transition under the auspices of the Government of National Unity (GNU). The GNU is led by the African National Congress, which is driving a remarkable transformation of South Africa's foreign policy. The growth of the economy requires that urgent attention be paid to SA's dwindling share of world trade. Excluding gold, this fell from 1.5 percent of world exports and 1,4 percent of world imports in 1965 to 0.9 percent and 0.6 percent in 1985, respectively. SA's stance on human rights has met with a decidedly mixed response in Africa. On the one hand, Pretoria is criticized for its failure, as yet, to sign the African Charter on Human and People's Rights. Moreover, SA has strongly supported the latest regional efforts to secure peace in Angola and in the Republic of Congo arid in Central Africa.