Abstract:
This paper investigates the strategic communication practices employed by foreign donors to influence
South Africa's development agenda. Using a qualitative research approach grounded in postcolonial theory,
the study draws on interviews with academics and NGO representatives in Limpopo Province to explore how
donor narratives shape public perceptions, policy decisions, and institutional autonomy. Findings reveal that
while foreign aid supports key service delivery areas, its communication strategies often obscure underlying
power dynamics, reinforce dependency, and promote donor-centric paradigms. The study recommends a shift
toward participatory communication and a reconfiguration of the aid discourse to centre local knowledge and
self-determined development goals.
