Africa must develop without relying on West – South African deputy president
The Global South must pursue independent development and stop “relying” on the West, especially in economic areas, South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile has said.
Speaking to RT, Mashatile called for reforms to global institutions and outlined his vision for South Africa and the continent as a whole.
“We can’t continue for years and years relying on the West for our own development in the South,” Mashatile stated. He emphasized the importance of engaging with global powers, including the United States, but stressed that the countries of the Global South must “have that freedom to develop.”
Mashatile highlighted South Africa’s presidency of the G20 as a significant opportunity to push for change. “We want to use the G20 as a platform to be able to focus on reform of some of the multilateral institutions... [including] development banks,” he said.
The deputy president also addressed global inequalities, particularly in the structure of the UN Security Council. He called for Africa to have permanent representation, stating: “We can’t be spectators of the continent. We want to be there. We must sit around that table, not outside.”
When asked about US President-elect Donald Trump, Mashatile expressed hope for better engagement but acknowledged the challenges ahead. He noted that during his first term, Trump “did not see Africa as a priority.” “It’s up to us to persuade him to understand that we do exist and we are a critical player,” he added.
On the domestic front, Mashatile laid out the plans of his party, the African National Congress (ANC), to address critical challenges. Renewing the ANC itself is a priority, Mashatile said, adding that “our branches are weak, some of our members need to be trained.” He stressed the need for local government reform to improve essential services such as water, electricity, and road maintenance.
Mashatile also underscored the importance of economic growth and job creation, citing the lingering effects of Covid-19. “We’re now seeing positive signs and positive growth, but it’s not enough,” he said, adding that projections of 1.5% GDP growth in South Africa this year fall short of what is needed to tackle high unemployment rates.
The politician also cited crime reduction as another pressing issue. “If you want to grow the economy, have investor confidence, you must deal with the problem of crime,” Mashatile stated, mentioning efforts to combat illegal mining, extortion, and other illegal activities.
