PHOTO 5: The office building for one of the countless Chinese-Singaporean mega corporations. These large skyscrapers are visible not only in “Chinatown” but are abundant practically around the entire island. Economists and politicians such as Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane have already raised concerns that China’s increased involvement into African development may be dangerous. The Chinese government has over the last decade “invested” heavily in Africa providing loans and foreign direct investment.
With the recent mega loan provided by China to the South African government to bail out Eskom, there are concerns that South Africa is now also under the control of China’s “soft power” political strategies. PHOTO: Casey Delport