Africa must take centre-stage in its affairs – S/Africa envoy

The envoy began by addressing the issue of trade and business relations between his country and Nigeria.I would say that we would like to develop together as brothers for a better South Africa, a better Nigeria and a better world. This should be so because we should learn from ourselves. It is only when we […]

The envoy began by addressing the issue of trade and business relations between his country and Nigeria.
I would say that we would like to develop together as brothers for a better South Africa, a better Nigeria and a better world. This should be so because we should learn from ourselves. It is only when we do it together that we would be able to develop simultaneously. Yes, South African companies have been able to record some major successes here in Nigeria. We have shifted from politics, we are now talking about economic diplomacy. Economic diplomacy not focusing on the traditional powers like in Europe, Japan and North America but in Africa.  So our resources should not be channeled on fighting wars but to bring about development.
But I would like to point out that the GDP economic growth must lead to creation of jobs; must lead to housing and so on. So President Jonathan is leading the way with the Transformation Agenda which I think if well implemented will address many issues including jobs and housing. Our countries bind themselves together as they address issues that towards the very poor.
So we need to make sure that we bridge the gap and create a middle class. We do not want to develop alone out of this partnership. We want to develop together with Nigerians. We want business in Nigeria to flourish. We want to assist and for Nigeria to benefit from our experience in the mining sector.
Agriculture is one area I don’t see South African companies doing much in Nigeria because you are way ahead and the sector is a big business there, yet I don’t see that here in Nigeria.
We are now beginning to focus in that area. Last year, we have about 15 companies showing interest in Nigeria. So, we are trying to assist because we know it is a critical area also as it would address food sufficiency. Agriculture is also a critical area that we are working with Nigeria. We don’t feel comfortable with Nigeria being a mono-economy. We want to see Nigeria diversify because when Nigeria is strong, we are also strong.
But some say that South Africans are secretly not keen on Nigeria competing and with the rebasing of the Gross Domestic Product, Nigeria will be go ahead of South Africa. Is it not the other way round that South Africa is trying to take advantage of Nigeria?
In business you can’t do that. In South Africa our foreign policy is symbiotic with our domestic policy. If we want to make life good for our people we assist to create a conducive environment that they can appreciate what you are doing. However, we don’t undermine the interest of our partners. We don’t feel uncomfortable if Nigeria grows. We don’t have any contradiction with Nigeria. People can say what they want to say, but we want Nigeria to grow. This is our position. I want to tell you that we as South Africa want to develop together with our partners.
There are many complaints about Nigeria businessmen especially small and medium scale operators being harassed in South Africa. What is your response to that?
It is an unfortunate situation. We try to educate our people that such attitude would not help us. But if you check it is not the whole South Africa, but mainly it is in the Western Cape and Southern part of the country. We are also trying to educate South Africans on the issue, talking to people and trying to explain to them so that we can contain such problem.  This problem is there in many countries, but we are trying to contain the situation.
How is the South Africa-Nigeria Bi-National Commission doing with its programmes?
Under the Bi-National Commission, we have signed nine Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between our two countries. We have also set up two councils that will be advising our governments on how to conduct business partnerships and to assure how our countries would be able to develop.
We have a lot of Nigerians going to South Africa to study. Are there any plans to encourage South Africans to come here to study or any scholarship that will encourage South African to come to Nigeria for studies?
Ofcourse it can be a two-way process. At the government level I know that there are lots of trainings that are organized for Nigerians working for governments and also the private sector. But our intention is to share experiences with Nigerians in certain areas. That is why we want to come in to assist in a lot of areas that we can.    
Are you aware of any South African studying in Nigeria because in the 1980s or it could be earlier and may be up to the early 1990s, lots of South Africans do come here. Are there any now?
Not like before. I know before some of them come to study here. But if there are, they are few. It is something you need to consciously encourage. There are good universities here, like University of Ibadan and Ahmadu Bello University. I also had the opportunity to study here but something happened and I did not come.
It seems the emphasis on economic diplomacy is responsible for South Africa not really throwing its weight around Africa. For example during the crisis in Liberia in 2003, ex-President Thabo Mbeki was very active in trying to get Charles Taylor to step down and participated in all New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) activities. But it looks like in recent years, where you have major problems like in Central Africa Republic, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, you don’t see the South Africans but smaller countries like Rwanda and Uganda contributing huge troops. Why is this so?
We have been involved like in South Sudan for a long time. I was actually responsible in managing and driving the training of South Sudanese people in the run up to Independence. We are central to that process. We have our people in South Sudan and Central African Republic. We lost about 13 of our soldiers when we went there. We are involved and I am sure it is the media for some reasons that focus on other countries. They focus on the role of France. We know the role Nigeria is playing in most of these countries, but they are not talking about what Nigeria is doing in Mali. Our troops are right now in the Central African Republic. These people helped us also when we are in difficulties; when Britain and America were supporting these powerful people who were oppressing us. They were not afraid that America will retaliate. When British Petroleum was not ready to stop supporting the oppressors, Nigeria decided to nationalise. We are involved in Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia and in Sudan.
My president came here last year and met with President Jonathan. He came to discuss how we can create an African troop before anyone can intervene from outside. It is believed that whoever comes in first and occupy a place determines the outcome of the resolution and some of them come with partisan interest to ensure things come to favour them. But we as African countries only have the interest of the people. Yes, we need their support but Africa must take the centre stage in its affairs and that is the position of South Africa.
The African National Congress seems to be going through some difficulties because from a distance it looks as if the small opposition parties are sensing some opportunity like the Democratic Alliance. One can sense some dissatisfaction, probably majority rule has not brought some changes to the lives of the people. Is there more soul-searching in the ANC?
Challenges are there for any country and for any political party. We have been experiencing challenges; internal crisis in the party and sometimes that is what is making us to advance the more. The system encourages them to form their own organization and they are free to move out of the ANC and the ANC did not stop them. We try to persuade them, but they say they want to leave. The enemy forces also came in to undermine our internal base.
Recently, the Congress of the People (COPE) was formed because some certain people felt it was better outside. We allowed them to go but most of them are coming back to the party and we welcomed them.
When we came in, the economy of the country was not good but we have tried. We made sure people have access to water, electricity and housing. We have to address all these things. We are trying our best but you know these things is not an event, it is a process and will take some time. But at the very same time, we make sure that our programmes are focused towards the poorest of the poor. It will take some time but some people are getting inpatient and you cannot blame them but we are on course. Our effort is geared towards creating one South Africa.