“The end of apartheid in 1994 through a negotiated settlement ushered in a democratic South Africa; consequently the country was readmitted into global politics after decades of isolation. The experience influenced the country’s ambitions to play a meaningful role regionally and internationally. These overtones were succinctly expressed by President Mandela, the very year the country marked the end of separatist development policies. One of the important aspects of this ambition was to contribute by finding peaceful means of ending conflicts and establishing mutually beneficial relationships with countries in Africa, and especially countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. This policy brief seeks to
critically examine South Africa’s mediation in Zimbabwe under the leadership of President
Mbeki, and subsequently that of President Zuma, over the period from 2007 to date.”
