South Africa in its democratic trajectory is at a pivotal moment, not dissimilar to its ‘founding democratic moment’ thirty years ago. However, like all countries of planet earth, South Africa does not exist as an ‘island’ on its own. Her choices must be located in the context of an ever increasing independent world that is going through compounding multiple crises in all almost systems that affect human life.

Accordingly, ‘Quo Vadis (Where to ?) South Africa, as for all countries, means that her policy choices must reflect and take into account the interconnectedness nature of foreign and domestic realities (formestic). National interest choices must be pursued in a manner that advances both the well-being of citizens whilst making a similar contribution to the well-being of citizens of the world and to planet earth as a whole. This is the imperative (the essential demand) of the times we live in. HC Rieaz ‘Moe’ Shaik will expand on this theme.