US tariffs are the bitter fruit of ANC’s denial, AfriForum says
President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC-led government must be held directly responsible for the serious negative impact that the US’s new trade tariffs will have on ordinary South Africans, argues AfriForum. According to the civil rights organisation, the government’s failure to address US concerns about human rights abuses against minorities in South Africa is a critical factor in the tariffs now imposed on the country.
The government has not only ignored US concerns about human rights abuses, but it has also repeatedly denied them. This is despite Zane Dangor, Director-General of the Department of International Relations, recently admitting that racially discriminatory ANC policies such as black economic empowerment (BEE) are serious obstacles to negotiations.
AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement’s attempts to engage with the ANC, negotiate local solutions with the party, and thus prevent the implementation of the US’s 30% tariff on exports from South Africa were recklessly sidelined by the ANC.
The civil rights organisation has also repeatedly warned the ANC-led government that attempts to falsely dismiss the US’s criticism and concerns as the result of so-called disinformation would not succeed. AfriForum has also urged the ANC-led government to take decisive action and resolve the pressing issues that have hindered relations with the US.
“However, our offer of help and warnings was ignored, and now the country is going to pay a heavy price for the ANC and the ANC-led government’s irresponsible actions,” explains Ernst van Zyl, Head of Public Relations at AfriForum.
AfriForum has meanwhile confirmed that the organisation will continue its efforts to find solutions in the best interest of the country and its people. “The country’s ordinary citizens do not deserve the punishment for the ANC’s misdeeds. Therefore, we will accelerate our campaign to try to convince the US to take action against the ANC politicians responsible for this crisis, rather than the country as a whole. There is already progress on this front,” Van Zyl concludes.
