WATCH LIVE as Gambakwe unpacks the potential crisis in the Southern African Development Community (SADC):
South Africa is set to become the incoming chair of SADC. Gambakwe highlights that South Africa is taking a firm stance on the Israel issue, having joined a group that is anti-Israel. This stance is causing diplomatic tension with the United States. Currently, South Africa does not have an ambassador to the US, and its special envoy to the US has been rejected. These points underscore a growing diplomatic rift between South Africa and the US.
In addition, Gambakwe notes internal diplomatic rejections, such as South Africa turning away Kenyan priests who intended to help Afrikaners relocate, signaling another layer of internal or regional tensions.
Importantly, tariffs in South Africa are likely to stay at 30%, which could have economic repercussions in the region given South Africa’s significant influence.
Gambakwe draws a parallel between South Africa’s upcoming chairmanship of SADC and the past chairmanship of Zimbabwe under Mnangagwa. He suggests that South Africa’s chairmanship will have a similarly significant impact on the region, implying potential instability or policy shifts.
Various SADC countries have differing policies on Israel, which adds complexity to the regional dynamics and could fuel further divisions within SADC.
Overall, Gambakwe sees the escalating conflict between South Africa and the US—especially around diplomatic representation and foreign policy—as a serious issue that threatens to plunge the entire SADC region into a crisis, more serious than he initially anticipated. This situation reflects a mix of diplomatic isolation, economic tensions, and policy divergence within the region that could affect regional unity and cooperation.
Timestamps
- Gambakwe discusses a potential crisis in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) [00:23].
- He attributes this issue to an alleged conflict between South Africa and the United States [00:43],
- and believes it could have significant repercussions for the entire SADC region [01:29].
- He also states that the situation has escalated and is more serious than he initially thought [01:46].
