The new leadership within the South African Republic is focused on pretty much the same issues as the previous one. The new president, Jacob Zuma, says his main prioroties are mainly related with the unity and peace in Africa, the promotion of peace and stronger ties with the countries which might turn out to be quite beneficial for the Republic. On human rights, the slow progress the government is showing cannot actually satisfy the international expectations.
However, a good improvement in the human rights protection by SA has been shown - recently the International Criminal Court announced it is prosecuting the Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and genocide and Zuma, as South Africa is a member of the court, announced if the president of Sudan sets a foot on South African soild, he faces an arrest. A good approach in preserving the international human rights distribution has been shown in that particulat issue as well as the discussions on the Israeli attack over the Turkish humanitarian aid ship.
On the other hand, Mr Zuma seems quite reluctant to interfere in areas which need urgent resolution - Mugabe, the political leader of Zimambawe, keeps committing crimes by not allowing the opposition to take a step forward, people are being arrested for no reason, white people exposed to constant danger. On that issue, Mr Zuma has not said a single word and this is when the interference of South Africa is quite needed. Other discussions on SA’s position on human rights arise with the international problems of Africa in general - Mr Zuma is being silent on the international forums about how exactly should the matter be approached.
This is definitely indicating a contraversial South African position towards the matters of human rights and liberties - while Mr Zuma keeps being silent in order to satisfy everyone and offend no-one (as if human rights are vw camper vans for sale ), the African continent needs urgent support in these areas since it is hightime that peace should be settled within the continent.