14A fundamental and long-standing question of southern African palaeoclimatology is the way 15 tropical and temperate climate system dynamics have influenced rainfall regimes across the 16 subcontinent since the Last Glacial Maximum. In this paper, we analyse a selection of recently 17 published palaeoclimate reconstructions along a southwest-northeast transect across South Africa. 18These records span the last 22,000 years, and encompass the transition between the region's winter 19 and summer rainfall zones. In synthesis, these records confirm broad elements of the dominant 20 paradigm, which proposes an inverse coeval relationship between temperate and tropical systems, 21with increased precipitation in the winter (summer) rainfall zone during glacial (interglac ia l) 22 periods. Revealed, however, is a substantially more complex dynamic, with millennial-sca le 23 climate change events being strongly -even predominantly -influenced by the interaction and 24 combination of temperate and tropical systems. This synoptic forcing can create same sign 25 anomalies across the South African rainfall zones, contrary to expectations based on the classic 26 model of phase opposition. These findings suggest a new paradigm for the interpretation of 27 southern African palaeoenvironmental records that moves beyond simple binary or additive 28 influences of these systems. 29 30

Highlights Quantitative estimates of climate at a key South African site over the past 20 kyr. Reconstructed trends show strong links with regional sea-surface temperatures. Reconstructions indicate interhemispheric synchrony in the African tropics. Findings do not support the hypothesis of direct insolation forcing of tropical African climates. Highlights a promising technique for analyzing palaeobotanical data in the region.

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