Hon Chairperson, Minister, Deputy Minister and members of this House, in the world in which we live there is a high expectation of South Africa to perform above its size in the global arena. South Africa's gross domestic product, GDP, represents 25% of the total GDP of Africa. Also, the economic activity we generate in South Africa accounts for one third of sub-Saharan Africa's economy. Clearly, we have a very important role to play in ensuring economic growth in Africa and achieving political stability across the continent.
Nevertheless, a critical question remains regarding how South Africa sees its place in the world and how we can assert our values and interests. We have tried to promote good governance, and play the mediator through the New Partnership for Africa's Development, Nepad, and the African Union, yet more assertiveness and focus is required.
South Africa is the biggest contributor to the African Union, AU. We are key role-players in Nepad, the Pan-African Parliament, PAP, and the Group of 77, G77, among others. The changing power dynamics in the world, and in Africa particularly, will require our country to play a prominent role.
The fact that we have joined Brazil, Russia, India and China, Bric, has given us even more credibility and leverage worldwide and we should be proud that we have secured a seat on the United Nations Security Council. These are all important platforms for us to use to improve the situation in our country and help support important international initiatives for peace and security.
For Africa to flourish, its leaders must respect the sovereignty of their people. H Solomon notes that in reality Africa has experienced not the sovereignty of the state but that of the state elites. For far too long the AU made the security of its leaders a privileged matter and prioritised it over the human security of Africa's 800 million citizens. Obviously, this has not been good for Africa. Leaders secured despotic tyrannical leaders at the expense of the people and their rights.
The North African people are slowly taking their future into their own hands. This is a wake-up call for all African and global leaders, that it is the people who will eventually decide the destiny of nations. The last vestiges of leaders like Muammar Gaddafi, Gbagbo and Mugabe, who want to cling to power even though it is time for them to go, will soon be wiped away. We need to understand that the Tunisian spring is still in its early days.
Geopolitical risk has become even more significant in today's global politics because of prevailing technology. Against this background South Africa needs to reassess its place in this ever-changing global environment. Our foreign policy requires a clear focused strategy.
One of the biggest issues in Africa is the future of Sudan. The recent referendum saw nearly 99% of the region's voters approve a split from Northern Sudan. Even so, peace has not come to the region. The incursion by the northern army into Abyei has once again displaced thousands of people. Is ethnic cleansing again taking place here, under the noses of the AU? We need to ask this question. Now that South Africa has obtained a nonpermanent seat for 2011-12 in the United Nations Security Council, it must do better for Africa this time round. Communication is key if we want to send out a clear message to the world.
Unfortunately, South Africa has not been able to clarify the rationale behind the vote in favour of the UNSC no-fly zone over Libya. Many attempts have been made to try to clarify this, but the message has not been very succinct and clear, especially when other emerging powers such as Brazil, India, China and Russia abstained.
We need to demonstrate that there is intellectual substance behind our crucial decision-making. This is critical, because Western powers are now using the resolution as a cover for military intervention. Communication is clearly lacking between the relevant stakeholders and, therefore, decisions are made which in retrospect appear to be ill-advised or short-sighted.
Let us recall Nelson Mandela's words in 1993 when he said:
South Africa will not be indifferent to the rights of others. Human rights will be the light that guides our foreign affairs.
Today, in keeping with those wishes of Madiba, we have to continue to be the torchbearers of that light by protecting and respecting human rights here and elsewhere. Last year it was said that the department would be working on a new White Paper on Foreign Policy, yet the progress in this regard is very slow. Furthermore, the establishment of the foreign policy council has not become a reality up to now. It has been more than a year and the commitments that were given have not been fully honoured. We appreciate the efforts made, but the commitments have not been fully honoured.
A greater deal of international co-operation between different nations will be required in the future. South Africa should act as the prime mover in proposing enhanced engagement between Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Brics, and the developed north. We would like to hear a more fluent and confident voice in South Africa's foreign policy. More importantly, we should identify clear economic goals and how to achieve these goals that we wish to pursue in the Brics forum.
In conclusion, South Africa must rethink its role and place in the Southern African Customs Union, Sacu, and the Southern African Development Community, SADC, region in order to provide leadership that is both strong and moral. The first step is to accelerate the harmonisation of policies among us and also to achieve an appropriate and equitable revenue-sharing formula within the customs union.
Furthermore, there has been little progress in regional integration processes at the level of the SADC, despite the fact that the area was declared a free trade area in 2008. When things are dragged out, neither our common interests nor good relationships are fostered. In fact, the opposite happens, and we must be conscious of this.
I congratulate Mr Jerry Matjila on his appointment, and wish him all the best for the future. Hon Minister, I also want to salute the contribution made by the former director-general, Dr Ntsaluba, on his sterling work in the department. I thank you.