Does South Africa Still Need the Southern African Customs Union in the Advancement of its Long-Term Strategic Interests in Southern Africa and Africa?

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to provide an answer to the question of  whether South Africa still needs the Southern African Customs Union in relation to the Southern African Development Community in the advancement of its long-term strategic interests in Southern Africa and  Africa. By consolidating its regional and continental status and seeking to be an international power, a major force within the Group of 20 countries and Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS), as well as an important actor in the United Nations as a permanent member of its  Security Council, it creates a more conducive regional, continental and global environment for the effective advancement of its interests regionally and continentally. The article concludes that South  Africa needs SADC, but not SACU, in the advancement of its interests regionally and continentally. South Africa also needs SADC but not SACU for  protection against its external enemies and opponents.