South Africa’s Sub-Imperialist Overtone
We welcomed South Africa's freedom with open arms - new markets, new trade partners and quite importantly new technology. Realize that from the 60's South Africa experienced unprecedented economic growth that rivaled many countries in the west. Much of this was attributed to low wages for black labor resulting in extremely high profits.
South Africa has become such a force on the African continent to the point that they're now rivaling the post-colonial influence of Europe… hence the term Sub-Imperial. A 'Trojan Horse' is the best way I can describe it. Consider this: NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa’s Development) which was initiated and overseen by South Africa exerts muscle on other African governments and is the backbone of the African Union. Further, NEPAD takes its orders from IMF, World Bank and the WTO (World Trade Organization).
Writing in the February 2006 issue of Openspace, a digest of the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) and the University of Botswana, Console Tleane-head of the media and ICT programme at South Africa's Freedom of Expression Institute-observed thus: "For some, the relationship that South Africa has with other SADC member states, and the continent as a whole, is that of self-imposing sub-imperial power which will stop at nothing to exert its influence and extract as many benefits from every relationship that it develops".
Its a pity though that for all SA’s so called growth and power, the government still cant(wont) sort out the crime. It obviously doesnt(wont) use its influence to put pressure on Mugabe to shape up or ship out. Sorry, I forgot, it’s Africa, normal rules dont apply.