Following the 2024 general elections, South Africa entered a new era of coalition politics as the ruling African National Congress (ANC) fell below 40% of the vote for the first time since 1994. This shift led to the formation of a Government of National Unity(GNU), often described as a grand coalition, which has significantly reshaped the political landscape and, at times, been seen to be reorienting the country’s foreign policy direction.

Although the ANC continues to lead the foreign policy portfolio within the GNU, the context and application of South Africa’s international stance have raised critical questions about the country’s posture on the global stage. This commentary examines the evolution of South Africa’s foreign policy since the elections, identifies key points of convergence and divergence, and considers the implications for its future role in international affairs.

The Foreign Policy Clutch 

Foreign policy has traditionally not been a central issue in South African elections, and this remained largely true in the lead-up to the 2024 national polls. However, there were nuanced instances where foreign policy did surface at the margins of the electoral landscape. For the African National Congress (ANC), the Palestine issue featured prominently as part of its election optics, often highlighted at rallies and included in its manifesto as part of its international stance. In contrast, the Democratic Alliance (DA) largely avoided substantive engagement with foreign policy matters, focusing instead on domestic governance failures and service delivery. Yet, the DA did strategically incorporate a foreign dimension into its “Rescue South Africa” campaign by calling for international oversight of the elections, exemplified by its letter to then US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressing concerns about the credibility of the electoral process. Meanwhile, for most other political parties, domestic socio-economic challenges remained the primary focus of their campaign, with foreign policy considerations receiving little to no attention.

Understanding the foreign policy context is essential to interpreting the formation of South Africa’s GNU. An important but often overlooked aspect of the GNU negotiations was how foreign policy featured—if at all—in the coalition-building process. Notably, the Statement of Intent that forms the foundation of the GNU presents a muted or vague framing of South Africa’s foreign policy direction. Foreign policy was not a central focus in the coalition’s deliberations; however, the DA did have its eye on the ministry.

The subdued focus of foreign policy during the initial phase of the GNU’s formation is revealing. It likely reflects a deliberate choice to avoid contentious debates, given the ideological differences between key partners like the ANC and the DA. Alternatively, foreign policy may have been deprioritised in favour of pressing domestic challenges such as economic recovery, rebuilding state capacity, and improving service delivery. However, this stance soon shifted as foreign policy issues began to play a more prominent role within the evolving GNU framework.

The GNU Euphoria  

At a cursory level, the GNU appears to present a unified stance on South Africa’s foreign policy direction. However, closer examination reveals a more complex dynamic, shaped by the entry of new ministers—particularly from the DA—into key positions that provide access to international engagement. This expanded presence in the foreign policy space has allowed these ministers to interact directly with foreign counterparts, shaping their views and potentially recalibrating their party’s traditional positions.

A telling example was the 2024 Forum on China–Africa Cooperation in South Africa (FOCAC), where, behind closed doors, it was noted that some DA ministers expressed admiration for China’s economic rise and development model. This reaction suggests that proximity to state power and exposure to real-world diplomacy are beginning to influence the perspectives of ministers who previously adopted more ideologically rigid or critical positions. It reflects a subtle but significant shift: the euphoria of political inclusion is now intersecting with the realities of foreign policy engagement.

However, this blurring of party lines and the emergence of a more pragmatic and nuanced approach to foreign policy within the GNU is also accompanied by underlying discontent. While collaboration in the foreign policy sphere may signal growing cohesion, it simultaneously exposes tensions among coalition partners, rooted in ideological differences, competing strategic interests, and concerns over influence and representation.

The Fractures in the GNU Foreign Policy Posture 

Deepening fault lines have emerged in the GNU’s evolving foreign policy posture, primarily stemming from the perception that the ANC retains disproportionate control over this direction. This perception has caused frustration among partners like the DA, who, although newly empowered to engage on international platforms, still find themselves marginalised in shaping strategic decisions.

Tensions have further escalated due to concerns that the Ramaphosa presidency is jeopardising critical relationships with key global partners, particularly the United States. This strain within the GNU has raised questions about how the ANC, which oversees foreign affairs through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), is positioning the country on issues like the Israel-Palestine conflict and relations with China and Russia. These orientations have revealed fractures in the GNU, highlighting the challenges of maintaining a coherent and unified foreign policy.

The fragility of South Africa’s relations with the US has also illuminated the ambiguous role foreign policy plays within the GNU’s foundational document—the Statement of Intent. The lack of a clear, shared foreign policy framework has resulted in ad hoc interpretations and ministerial discretion, creating uncertainty within diplomatic circles and among international partners. This uncertainty was exemplified by the recent incident where President Ramaphosa dismissed DA Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield after he visited the United States as part of a DA delegation. The Presidency claimed that this act breached diplomatic protocol and risked straining an already sensitive relationship between Washington and Pretoria.

In addition to the DA’s criticism of South Africa for failing to improve relations with the US regarding domestic policies such as Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment, the foreign policy posture under the GNU has also raised questions about its sustainability. The fallout from Whitfield’s dismissal has been leveraged by the DA as a means to position itself against the ANC on domestic issues like corruption and the call for the dismissal of ANC ministers implicated in graft, as well as to push back against what they perceive as genuine power-sharing concerns as defined through the Statement of Intent.

‘Domestication’ of Foreign Policy in the GNU 

This new chapter of South African politics has brought into focus the question of domestication of the foreign policy agenda in the GNU. Where previously foreign policy did not feature as explicitly in how it underscored the domestic landscape, now it seems to be becoming part of the governance architecture in the current government. This ‘domesticity’ of foreign policy can be seen with the call for a review of the country’s foreign policy strategy by the DA. It would appear that the review is linked to how the conduct of international affairs is professionalised through the appointment of ambassadors and the adoption of a sufficient consensus-led approach to decision-making, and defining a more cohesive national interest that is aligned with global realities.

In a recent submission to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, Professor Siphamandla Zondi—who leads the international partnerships platform under the National Planning Commission—emphasised the urgent need to update South Africa’s foreign policy framework. He argued that existing policy documents need to reflect the country’s evolving strategic positioning in global affairs. Professor Zondi further highlighted the importance of leveraging South Africa’s role as a host and chair of key international events and organisations to craft a more coherent and purposeful foreign policy engagement. This, he noted, would enable the country to align its diplomatic efforts with national development goals and enhance its global influence through strategic multilateral participation.

Both these issues highlight that under the GNU, foreign policy is becoming embedded in the domestic political architecture—a shift that reflects both structural changes and mounting pressures for greater transparency, accountability, and strategic alignment.

Looking forward 

The evolving nature of South Africa’s foreign stance following the 2024 national elections raises the following pulse points:

An institutional review of the Foreign Policy Context: The institutional review of South Africa’s foreign policy strategy signifies a move to bring international relations under greater democratic scrutiny and coalition oversight. It reflects a desire to redefine national interest in a way that is consensus-driven and professionally administered. This will also require Parliament to play a critical role in shaping the review and defining its role in the manner in which oversight is conducted.

Policy Coherence as a Governance Imperative: Foreign policy is no longer seen as separate from development goals or public accountability. Instead, it is being further advanced as a tool of domestic statecraft, tied to economic recovery, institutional reform, and the legitimacy of coalition governance.

Updating and Strengthening the Foreign Policy Framework:  The need to update South Africa’s foreign policy documents reflects its evolving global positioning. The call to leverage the country’s role in hosting international events suggests that foreign policy should support national development priorities and not merely follow ideological or historical orientations.

Balancing Between Domestic and Global Agendas: The increasing focus on foreign policy by actors across the GNU reflects how international engagements are now evaluated in terms of domestic utility, whether in attracting investment, asserting soft power, or advancing multilateral influence that benefits the national agenda.

As South Africa delves deeper into an era of coalition politics, foreign policy is likely to become increasingly central to how the country balances its domestic engagements with its international affairs. This shift presents an opportunity for a more inclusive and developmentally oriented foreign policy agenda. However, it also carries the risk of incoherence if not anchored in a unified, nationally agreed upon framework.

Sanusha Naidu is a senior research associate at the Institute for Global Dialogue associated with UNISA. The views do not necessarily reflect those of the IGD.

The article was first published at https://www.ispionline.it/en/publication/south-africas-evolving-global-stance-after-the-2024-elections-215317