Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read
26 August 2025 | 14:45 CAT

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent engagements with European leaders have reignited debate over South Africa’s stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. While Pretoria maintains it is impartial and committed to dialogue, International Relations Expert Dr Kingsley Makubela warns that South Africa risks becoming a “glorified mediator” without the institutional capacity or credibility to influence outcomes.

Speaking in a recent discussion with Radio Islam International, Dr Makubela outlined the attributes necessary for a credible mediator: the ability to underwrite the mediation process and to encourage disputing parties to move beyond a win-lose mindset. “South Africa is in no way near any role that it can play,” he cautioned, noting that nuclear powers and global heavyweights dominate the conflict, leaving smaller actors like South Africa sidelined.

Comparisons were drawn to Qatar, a small state that has built an international reputation as a neutral broker. “The Qataris have developed institutional capacity, they mediated between the Americans and the Taliban, between the Americans and the Iranians, and are now involved between the Israelis and Palestinians,” Dr Makubela explained. South Africa, he argued, once had similar capacity during its mediation efforts in Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia and the DRC, but this has since “disappeared.”

Makubela further warned of the risks of an inconsistent foreign policy. “We’re going to end up being isolated within the BRICS family, isolated within the Europeans and the Americans,” he said, pointing to South Africa’s lack of clarity between “contextual” interventions, creating conducive conditions for talks and “substantive” interventions that address core disputes. Ukraine leans toward the former, while Russia demands the latter. Without the ability to balance both, South Africa’s role remains marginal.

Turning to Africa, Makubela stressed that Pretoria’s credibility has historically been anchored in its African agenda, which earned it a seat at the G20. Yet, he argued, “South Africa is failing to do that, we couldn’t even sort out a conflict across our border in Mozambique.” He called for renewed focus on resolving African conflicts such as those in Sudan and Cameroon to rebuild continental leadership.

To revive credibility, Makubela recommended establishing a think tank to guide long-term foreign policy. “In foreign policy, no one looks after your interests, you look after your interests,” he remarked, urging integration between government and academic institutions to develop expertise and strategic capacity.

Without such reforms, he warned, South Africa risks “moving blindly” in an increasingly multipolar world.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Dr Kingsley Makubela.