The article traces the intricacies of the South African threat agenda since 1994. Historically, the South African threat agenda at various times had to contend with the influence of European powers in Africa, the possibility of a landward invasion from Africa, and the risk of an internal uprising. Since democratisation in 1994, the ruling elite’s threat perception has been shaped by the idea of human security. The harsh realities of the African security environment together with various bureaucratic challenges made operationalization of human security a daunting task. The article concludes by arguing that South Africa finds it increasingly difficult to balance the need for nuanced relationships with its traditional economic partners in the West, with constructive engagement and political ambitions in Africa and the global south, and the historical partnerships of the governing African National Congress as a political party.
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