Chinese Economic Diplomacy in South Africa 1994-2015: A Partnership or a Chinese Neo-Colonial Endeavour? MDUNGEMUSA MADUNGE 2019 The purpose of this thesis was to establish if Sino-South Africa economic relations were an example of a partnership or Chinese neo-colonialism. According to the composition of trade, China benefited from exporting value-added goods to South Africa and received cheaper resource imports from South Africa. However, South Africa has also benefited from a stable Chinese market. Sino-South African economic relations have impacted South Africa’s ability to exercise complete sovereignty in domestic affairs on various matters. This is an indication that despite an equal partnership, South Africa as the smaller partner, will at times needs to bend to China’s whims.