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| Why Britain is wrong to cut aid to South Africa | Why Britain is wrong to cut aid to South Africa |
| (8 days later) | |
| South Africa remains a nation with two parallel economies co-existing side by side. On the one hand it has the infrastructure and economy of a successful developed country, but on the other there are millions of – mainly black – poor, hungry and dispossessed people often lacking basic education, merely subsisting as they struggle to survive. | South Africa remains a nation with two parallel economies co-existing side by side. On the one hand it has the infrastructure and economy of a successful developed country, but on the other there are millions of – mainly black – poor, hungry and dispossessed people often lacking basic education, merely subsisting as they struggle to survive. |
| Nearly 20 years after the end of apartheid, the disparity between rich and poor is (arguably) getting wider, even though South Africa has been overtaken by Brazil as the most unequal society in the world. The reasons for this may be obvious, with most economists agreeing that there is no fast way to equality. | Nearly 20 years after the end of apartheid, the disparity between rich and poor is (arguably) getting wider, even though South Africa has been overtaken by Brazil as the most unequal society in the world. The reasons for this may be obvious, with most economists agreeing that there is no fast way to equality. |
| Yes, you might say, why don't the rich white, black and Asian South Africans pay for this, and they already do. After the US, South Africans give more to charity than any other nation. It is simply not enough. Not that £19m from the UK makes a huge difference, but it is symbolic support for a few, and this is why the British government is wrong to end this lifeline. | Yes, you might say, why don't the rich white, black and Asian South Africans pay for this, and they already do. After the US, South Africans give more to charity than any other nation. It is simply not enough. Not that £19m from the UK makes a huge difference, but it is symbolic support for a few, and this is why the British government is wrong to end this lifeline. |
| Firstly, South Africa is, and has always been the most strategically important African country to Britain. It is a major exporter of gold, diamonds and uranium, the region has huge copper reserves and Britain has historically been the country's largest trading partner. If Britain loses its position as a key player in these markets, other EU states and China will see their stock rise in this part of Africa. | Firstly, South Africa is, and has always been the most strategically important African country to Britain. It is a major exporter of gold, diamonds and uranium, the region has huge copper reserves and Britain has historically been the country's largest trading partner. If Britain loses its position as a key player in these markets, other EU states and China will see their stock rise in this part of Africa. |
| Next, this is a perceived slap in the face and represents yet another failure of British diplomacy in southern Africa. Ironically the last time British overseas policy was successful in the region was in 1979, when the incoming prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, forced through a negotiated settlement in Rhodesia to pave the way for the independence – the Lancaster House agreement. Since then there have only been failures. | Next, this is a perceived slap in the face and represents yet another failure of British diplomacy in southern Africa. Ironically the last time British overseas policy was successful in the region was in 1979, when the incoming prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, forced through a negotiated settlement in Rhodesia to pave the way for the independence – the Lancaster House agreement. Since then there have only been failures. |
| Thatcher damaged brand UK throughout the 1980 through her support for the apartheid regime. People like the Conservative MP Sir Teddy Taylor regularly called for Mandela to be hanged, and was never reprimanded. The frosty relations between the Tories and the ANC were witnessed at Thatcher's recent funeral to which the ANC refused to send any senior officials. Why should they, when she called Mandela a terrorist. | Thatcher damaged brand UK throughout the 1980 through her support for the apartheid regime. People like the Conservative MP Sir Teddy Taylor regularly called for Mandela to be hanged, and was never reprimanded. The frosty relations between the Tories and the ANC were witnessed at Thatcher's recent funeral to which the ANC refused to send any senior officials. Why should they, when she called Mandela a terrorist. |
| The next huge failure was Clare Short's letter to Mugabe in 1997. It was in this letter that she told the previously Anglophile dictator (who greatly admired Thatcher and the Queen) that "We do not accept Britain has a special responsibility to meet the cost of land purchases in Zimbabwe." She went on to lecture Mugabe that, being of Irish descent, it had nothing to do with her anyway. | The next huge failure was Clare Short's letter to Mugabe in 1997. It was in this letter that she told the previously Anglophile dictator (who greatly admired Thatcher and the Queen) that "We do not accept Britain has a special responsibility to meet the cost of land purchases in Zimbabwe." She went on to lecture Mugabe that, being of Irish descent, it had nothing to do with her anyway. |
| In any case, she provoked Mugabe's wrath by reneging on the aforementioned 1979 Lancaster House peace agreement, which acknowledged Britain's responsibility to help resolve the land issue. This colonial land grab helped to create the gaping inequality in Zimbabwe when Britain invaded the country less than 100 earlier and divided the land among the English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh settlers. | In any case, she provoked Mugabe's wrath by reneging on the aforementioned 1979 Lancaster House peace agreement, which acknowledged Britain's responsibility to help resolve the land issue. This colonial land grab helped to create the gaping inequality in Zimbabwe when Britain invaded the country less than 100 earlier and divided the land among the English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh settlers. |
| The Clare Short letter unleashed the final wave of farm seizures which effectively led to the ethnic cleansing of Zimbabwe's white minority. | The Clare Short letter unleashed the final wave of farm seizures which effectively led to the ethnic cleansing of Zimbabwe's white minority. |
| Britain would do well to remember that Thatcher, through her support for the apartheid regime to protect British mining and banking interests, helped to perpetuate the inequality that persists in South Africa to this day. Ultimately this has damaged British interests in the region. | Britain would do well to remember that Thatcher, through her support for the apartheid regime to protect British mining and banking interests, helped to perpetuate the inequality that persists in South Africa to this day. Ultimately this has damaged British interests in the region. |
| There is just not enough money available to fix South Africa overnight. Britain is definitely partly responsible – had it applied sanctions as the Americans did, apartheid may have ended earlier. The inequality this aid is intended to address would have been less pronounced. And this is not something that happened centuries ago, but in the 1980s. | There is just not enough money available to fix South Africa overnight. Britain is definitely partly responsible – had it applied sanctions as the Americans did, apartheid may have ended earlier. The inequality this aid is intended to address would have been less pronounced. And this is not something that happened centuries ago, but in the 1980s. |
| Finally, the International Development Secretary Justine Greening would do well to remember that as MP for Putney, home to thousands of South Africans, this move will damage her stock, Cameron's stock, and ultimately the country's. | Finally, the International Development Secretary Justine Greening would do well to remember that as MP for Putney, home to thousands of South Africans, this move will damage her stock, Cameron's stock, and ultimately the country's. |
| Jeremy Kuper is the editor of Gateway to Africa Magazine | Jeremy Kuper is the editor of Gateway to Africa Magazine |
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