Foreign Aid or foreign control? the role of strategic communication in perpetuating colonial influence on South African development

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.