25 years ago, China and South Africa were largely estranged from one another. The two countries didn’t even recognize each other recognize each other as the former apartheid government in Pretoria maintained diplomatic ties with China’s bitter rival in Taiwan.

Back then it would have been inconceivable that China would become South Africa’s largest trading partner, a faithful ally of the ruling African National Congress party and the single largest destination for Chinese investment in Africa.

Furthermore, South Africa is also home to the largest ethnic Chinese population on the continent.

Wits University postdoctoral research fellow Christopher Williams has closely followed the rise of China-South Africa relations from the beginning when former South African president Nelson Mandela formerly recognized China in 1998. Christopher joins Eric & Cobus to explain why this relationship has become so important for both countries.