South Africa and its neighbours were at the centre of a tussle for influence this week when top Russian and US officials visited the region, offering a rare moment of leverage for governments on a continent more used to being buffeted by events than wooed. “They have the opportunity to play one side off against the other to get concessions; to get more aid, more trade,” said Steven Gruzd from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), in an interview with Business Day. Read the full interview at the link below.
