“First, it is important to strengthen the exchange of experience in governance,” said Ambassador Chen Xiaodong of the PRC to South Africa at a High Level Dialogue at the Embassy of China in the City of Tshwane to unpack and provide information on the landmark 20th National Congress of the CPC which he attended from 16 to 20 October in Beijing. The China-South Africa Comprehensive Strategic Partnership reflects the special bond between the two countries which the Ambassador reassured will strengthen and deepen.

The People’s Republic of China and South Africa share much more in common than meets the eye. The ideals of fairness, the just and equal distribution of revenue and resources, the collective benefit of land usage, learning and education for all are just some of the principles that are enshrined in the Freedom Charter, South Africa’s founding document. The Communist Party of China – CPC adopted similar people centred policies guided by Marxist philosophy and developed a socialism on the needs and values of the Chinese nation.

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The people will always be central to China’s governance and the resolution that re-elected President Xi Jinping to lead at the core of the CPC into the 2nd century of its formation in 1921, is one of the significant outcomes of the 20th Congress. “On the journey ahead, we shall always champion the common values of humanity. Just as China cannot develop in isolation from the world, the world needs China for its development. China will open its door ever wider. We will be steadfast in deepening reform and opening-up across the board and in pursuing high-quality development. A prosperous China will create many more opportunities for the world. We must forge with enterprise and fortitude and endeavor to create a better future,” said Ambassador Xiaodong.

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South Africa was left economically and morally bankrupt by the skewed, oppressive and brutal actions of the apartheid regime. The sanctions and disinvestment applied to collapse the inhumane regime took its toll forcing it to the negotiation table in the early 1990’s. The good intentions of a peaceful negotiated settlement led to the first democratic elections in South Africa in 1994. A new general assembly and parliamentary dispensation, new flag and national anthem and a new constitution considered to be one of the world’s most progressive, earned South Africa the title of a miracle nation. Three decades later South Africa is once again teetering at a precipice and once again the nation finds itself in the middle of a perfect storm at another inflection point in the global geo-politic.

The end of the Cold War in the late 1980’s and the demise of the Soviet Union was deemed to be the end of communism. This world changing transformation from a bi-polar to a uni-polar world order had serious consequences for the leadership guiding the changes in South Africa. At the same time China was finding a new value in its collective socialist system, gradually transforming and opening up to a market system with Chinese characteristics.

With the end of communism in the Soviet Union from which the revolutionary movements in South Africa received support and whose ideology they were convinced was the exemplary model for South Africa’s socialist system, the leadership was easily influenced to follow a capitalist free market system and abandon their policy of nationalisation of the mining, financial, agricultural other key sectors. Instead, South Africa adopted a policy of Black Economic Empowerment and Affirmative Action to redress the gross inequalities of the past discriminatory exploitation.

China’s Communist Party was formed on 1 July 1921 as fate would have it just 30 days later the South African Communist Party was formed on 30 July 1921. Today the CPC is in control of an economy worth 18 trillion US$ and on course to becoming the largest economy in the world. The stark contrast in the history of development between the two countries can be measured and compared on many varying scales.
The challenges of inequality, unemployment and infrastructure development among others that South Africa is currently faced with are not insurmountable. A contemplative mind-set shift will unlock opportunities away from the insecurity and guilt of the past by drawing from China’s experience and the abundance of the African continent’s reassuring embrace. Much work and progress has already been made through the BRICS formations, the partnerships of FOCAC and the infrastructure connections of BRI.

By Kirtan Bhana