AfriForum holds President Cyril Ramaphosa and other ANC leaders in government directly responsible for the notification from the US administration regarding its intention to terminate South Africa\u2019s status as a beneficiary under the US\u2019s African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) effective 1 January 2027, as well as for the job losses that will result from this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to AfriForum, Ramaphosa and his government\u2019s foreign policy, as well as the signing of the Expropriation Act on 23 January 2025, contributed directly to US President Donald Trump\u2019s announcement just ten days later that the US would take action against South Africa. AGOA sets out explicit requirements regarding the protection of private property rights and stipulates that beneficiary countries may not undermine US national security or foreign policy interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Werner Human, AfriForum\u2019s deputy CEO, the government\u2019s foreign policy prioritises ideological nostalgia for countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, and Iran over the interests of ordinary South Africans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is no meaningful distinction between the ANC\u2019s foreign policy and that of the government. For the ANC, it is about narrow party interests and factional infighting, rather than economic growth and job creation in South Africa,\u201d adds Human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As early as April 2024, AfriForum warned Ramaphosa in a letter about the dangers the Expropriation Act poses to property rights, and proposed that the provisions threatening private property rights be removed. There was no response to this letter. Over the past few years, AfriForum, Solidarity, and the Solidarity Movement have also consistently submitted proposals to the Presidency aimed at resolving the ongoing dispute with the USA \u2013 including specific proposals from Solidarity regarding AGOA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUltimately, it is the absence of political will on the part of President Ramaphosa and the government to find a solution with the US that is now resulting in ordinary citizens paying the price for the ANC\u2019s political selfishness,\u201d says Human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his notice, Trump expressed hope that South Africa would heed the US\u2019s concerns and once again become eligible for AGOA benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AfriForum will continue to play a constructive role in ensuring that issues such as the \u201cKill the Boer\u201d chant, the protection of property rights, and race-based laws are addressed \u2013 in the interest of the country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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