As tensions escalate between South Africa and the US regarding land expropriation laws, ANC's Gwede Mantashe emphasizes the nation's autonomy and critiques citizens urging punitive actions from the US.
South Africa Asserts Independence Amid Rising US Tensions
South Africa Asserts Independence Amid Rising US Tensions
ANC Chair Gwede Mantashe firmly defends South Africa's sovereignty in response to US criticisms over land reform.
A high-ranking member of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) has stepped forward to underscore the nation's sovereignty amidst escalating tensions with the United States related to race relations and newly enacted land reform legislation. ANC National Chair Gwede Mantashe, speaking at a Freedom Day event, affirmed, "We are a free country, we're a sovereign country. We're not a province of the United States and that sovereignty will be defended."
The diplomatic strife stems from President Donald Trump's strong condemnation of South Africa's recent expropriation law, designed to permit the government to acquire land without compensation under specific conditions. In February, Trump signed an executive order criticising the law as a vehicle for "seizing ethnic minority Afrikaners' agricultural property without compensation." In defense of the law, President Cyril Ramaphosa argued that it aims to ensure "public access to land in an equitable and just manner."
The law has ignited tensions given that it provides for land seizure by the government, a critical point of contention for many. Trump's executive order also implies possible US asylum for Afrikaaners, portraying them as "victims of unjust racial discrimination." Mantashe reframed the narrative during his speech, dismissing South Africans who have encouraged Trump to "punish" the country, urging those who seek refuge in the US to proceed and leave.
Public exchanges have intensified on social platforms, exemplified by Elon Musk's recent remarks on the land ownership laws, which he labeled "racist." Despite the end of apartheid, a significant proportion of South Africa's land and resources remains in the hands of the white minority.
In a measure aimed at easing the diplomatic fallout, South Africa recently appointed Mcebisi Jonas as a special envoy to Washington, tasked with steering the country’s "diplomatic, trade and bilateral priorities," according to Ramaphosa. This appointment follows the expulsion of South Africa's ambassador Ebrahim Rasool from the US, prompted by his accusations of Trump's rhetoric being a manifestation of "dog whistle" politics.
