South African Perspectives: The Domestic and International Implications of South Africa’s 2024 Elections

On 29 May 2024, South Africans voted and an embattled African National Congress lost its majority for the first time since it came to power in 1994. The country will experience its first coalition government at a time when decisive action is needed to combat slow economic growth, rolling power blackouts, high crime, and poverty. The election results will also affect South Africa’s delicate balancing of its foreign policy goals: achieving a rules-based international order, strengthening Africa’s position in the global order, and improving South–South cooperation.  

South Africa is not only an important country that must be engaged with in general, but also one of Germany’s key partners on the African continent. The BRICS member is set to host the G20 in 2025 and has made headlines both for its move to sue Israel before the International Court of Justice and for its position towards Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. What are the implications of South Africa’s election results for its domestic politics and foreign policy, as well as its relations with Europe and Germany? What prospects and challenges do the election results present for collaborative efforts between Europe and South Africa in addressing global challenges such as climate change, security, and human rights?  

These and other questions are at the core of the discussion to which the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) and the German Africa Foundation cordially invite you.  

We look forward to your participation and to collectively exploring the future trajectory of South Africa in a rapidly evolving global context.

Welcome Remarks: Sabine Odhiambo is Secretary General at the German Africa Foundation.

Discussants: Mohamed Cassimjee is a Geopolitical Consultant and former Diplomat and former Minister Plenipotentiary at the South African Embassy in Berlin.

Qaanitah Hunter is a former Assistant Editor for the major SA online news platform News24 and author of the book Who Will Rule South Africa?

Dr. Maxine Rubin is a Research Fellow at the GIGA Institute for African Affairs.

Associate Professor Dr. Zwelethu Jolobe is Head of Political Studies Department at the University of Cape Town.

Moderator: Prof. Dr. Christian von Soest is Head of Research Programme “Peace and Security” at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA).