ANC secretary general fires back after ambassador's remarks
A war of words between Pretoria and Washington has intensified after ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula delivered a pointed rebuke to United States ambassador Brent Bozell, who used an address at the BizNews conference to air American frustrations with South Africa's diplomatic stance.
Bozell used his platform to outline growing displeasure within the Donald Trump administration, claiming South Africa has failed to act on a number of requests from Washington. The ambassador touched on cooperation in security matters, protection of rural communities from violence, and the significance of robust trade ties between the two nations.
Mbalula, however, was having none of it. He insisted that Pretoria would not allow any foreign power to steer its international relations agenda.
"We must make it clear to all who welcome us to our beautiful country, including the new American ambassador, that South Africa's international relations policy will not be determined by anyone other than South Africans and their government."
The ANC's top official also dismissed suggestions that major American corporations could pull their operations out of the country. He described warnings about potential divestment by firms such as Amazon, Google, Visa and Microsoft as baseless, arguing that continued investment by these companies demonstrated enduring confidence in the South African economy. Mbalula reiterated that South Africa champions a "multipolar world" grounded in respect for international law and multilateral institutions.
Critics question ANC's grip on foreign policy
Not everyone agreed with Mbalula's assessment. Jaco Kleynhans, head of international liaison at Solidarity, argued that the ANC secretary general had misjudged the situation. Kleynhans contended that while South Africans should indeed shape their own foreign policy, the ANC — commanding roughly 40% electoral support — was acting as though it alone held that mandate. He maintained that diplomacy requires give and take, and accused the ruling party of squandering decades of international goodwill.
"Since 1994, the ANC has become comfortable in a position where South Africa receives the goodwill of the rest of the world, while at the same time the government strengthens ties that conflict with the interests of some of our most important trading partners."
Kleynhans added that Bozell had conducted himself with appropriate diplomatic decorum and that his speech accurately captured the friction between the two countries. He urged South Africans to welcome such frank engagement rather than reject it.
The US Department of State's Bureau of African Affairs weighed in as well, backing Trump's decision to spotlight what it termed "government-sponsored race-based discrimination" in South Africa. The bureau accused President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC of entrenching a racial system benefiting only well-connected elites, while ordinary citizens grapple with soaring crime and unemployment rates that rank among the worst globally. It stressed that these obstacles must be addressed before bilateral relations can be repaired.
Solidarity Movement chairman Flip Buys revealed that his organisation has been engaged in sustained discussions with American decision makers and opinion leaders for some time, seeking to shield South Africa from economic fallout caused by government policy choices. He said the movement had urged Washington from the outset not to expel South Africa from the Agoa trade agreement or impose punitive measures, but rather to pressure the government into abandoning harmful policies. Buys pointed to Pretoria's ties with Venezuela, Cuba and Iran, along with domestic concerns including farm security, expropriation without compensation, the chanting of "Kill the Boer" and racially motivated legislation.
"It is time for the South African government to realize that their friends abroad are becoming fewer and fewer. The ANC is making the wrong friends and the wrong enemies - including the USA."
Buys confirmed that the Solidarity Movement would continue its engagement with American leaders "for the sake of the country" and to help restore damaged relations between Pretoria and Washington.
South Africa's diplomatic relationship with the United States directly affects millions of citizens through trade agreements like Agoa, foreign investment, and job creation linked to American corporations operating locally. Any deterioration in bilateral ties risks economic consequences at a time when unemployment remains critically high. How Pretoria navigates these tensions while maintaining its stated commitment to multilateral diplomacy and sovereign foreign policy will likely shape the country's international standing and economic trajectory for years ahead.
