The prodigal returns: South Africa's re‐admission to the commonwealth of Nations June 1994

Abstract

This article describes the reaction in the South African press to the return of South Africa to the Commonwealth in June 1994 in the context of the background of the much‐changed circumstances of the 1990s. It notes that the new ANC government and the largest organ of black press opinion supports South Africa's membership of the Commonwealth. It also indicates shifts in attitude by the English and Afrikaans speaking white population towards the Commonwealth connection and the British monarchy. It outlines briefly how the Commonwealth has changed since 1961 and indicates the effect of the sanctions campaign against South Africa on the Commonwealth and on Britain's position in the organisation.