The role of multinational corporations in South Africa

An assessment of the Republic's economic relations with the West has to take cognizance of the major role played by Western MNC's in the South African economy. There are also various other reasons for focusing on MNC's. First, due to the scale of their operations in,the Republic, they are in a position to exert some measure of influence in the socio-political as well as economic spheres. Second, given South Africans,international standing and external pressure, these foreign-linked companies operate in a particularly complex and sensitive international political environment. Third, South Africans peculiar socio-political structures present MNC's with a rather exceptional set of circumstances in their local operations. Fourth, MNC's per se are a phenomenon which has attracted a considerable degree of international attention and investigation.