Listening to the various impressive presentations, at the University of the Witwatersrand's recent Mandela Institute Conference on the Private Security Industry Regulatory Act Amendment Bill, commonly known as the Security Bill, I was left with a great sense of discomfort recognizing the disconnect between South Africa's national security imperatives and its trade and investment policy.
What South Africa is grappling with in its balancing act between national security interests and international investment competitiveness is nothing new. Countries like the US, Canada, Japan, Australia and China have successfully walked that tight rope before. South Africa being the hitherto multilateral player that apparently does not shy away from learning from the best could also take a cue from some of these countries.
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