What does Obama mean for SA?

Roy McKenzie

Cape Town - US president-elect Barack Obama's election victory has been received with widespread enthusiasm in South Africa, but as he turns his attention to taking over the White House faced with problems such as an ailing economy and two wars, what exactly will his presidency mean for South Africa?

The American Ambassador to South Africa, Eric Bost, says it's too soon to say, but has warned that Obama's immediate priorities will be at home, and not the rest of the world - which could be detrimental to South Africa.

Addressing the SA Institute of International Affairs in Cape Town on Tuesday, Bost spoke enthusiastically about the longest and most expensive campaign ever, which culminated in the election of the first black president in American history.

"No one thought it, no one saw it coming," he said, although he pointed out that when Obama visited South Africa in 2006 and was asked if he thought America was ready for a black president, he said yes.

Transition

"People are excited about Obama - even the people who didn't vote for him. Because they realise the value of what our country stands for," Bost said.

"Obama will be the president and Americans will rally around him and put political differences aside. They're first and foremost Americans."

Bost noted how the transition had been cordial so far. "That's a core foundation of what democracy is all about," he said.

"There was a hard-fought campaign and now that is over, the transition has started. There's no bloodshed, no talk of power-sharing and 'can we work something out because I want to stay'," he said, taking a dig at Zimbabwe and Kenya's recent elections.

Africa 'must hold leaders accountable'

"Until the people of Africa hold their leaders accountable, they will have situations like Zimbabwe."

He also bemoaned the fact that, despite the recent power-sharing agreement and high-level talks, "nothing has happened, Zimbabweans are still dying".

Bost said Americans are naturally optimistic, despite the many challenges ahead, adding that Obama had started to temper some of the high expectations voters have of him. His first major task will be to prioritise the many challenges facing the country. "He must make some tough decisions, and that will be key to his success," he observed.

"Obama will be the president of the US, not the rest of the world, so given the scale of the problems in the US, he has to address these problems first."

South Africa

So how will this affect Obama's foreign policy, particularly regarding Africa and South Africa?

"It's too soon to say, but Obama will have to go a long way to match or surpass what Bush has done for the country and continent," Bost said, highlighting duty-free trade and spending $1.5bn on HIV/Aids over the last five years, as well as other initiatives such as education and combating malaria and other diseases.

"It will be interesting to see if he can achieve the record of this president, and it will be interesting to compare in four years time."

Bost, who was appointed to his post by President George W Bush, is expected to be recalled and replaced by a new ambassador early next year.

Bost also warned that Democrats are historically more protectionist than Republicans, and given the fact that many unions supported Obama, it may affect South Africa's access to trade and the US marketplace.

Strategic partner

The ambassador pointed out however that the US sees South Africa as an important strategic partner - given its position in SADC, the AU and the UN and its commitment to peace and stability on the African continent - and it is important for the US to strengthen its relationship with South Africa.

He said he thought it was likely that Jacob Zuma would be the next president of South Africa, and that Zuma had been well received during a recent visit to the US.

Zuma and an ANC delegation visited the country at the invitation of the US government, and met with US government officials and other organisations. Zuma also addressed the Council of Foreign Relations.

He added that Zuma also sees the US as an important strategic partner.

- News24