South Africa has pushed back against the United States for its human rights criticisms and concerns about black economic empowerment laws, emphasising the resilience of bilateral ties with the country, even as President Donald Trump’s new tariffs threaten trade flows.
The US’s blanket 30% tariff on South African exports that came into effect on August 7 is expected to reduce South Africa's GDP by 0.2-0.3% this year due to disruptions in the retail, transport and services sectors.
Industry leaders have warned that the measures threaten to slash exports in key sectors like minerals, automobiles and agriculture.
International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, speaking during a media briefing on Wednesday, highlighted the government’s ongoing high-level engagements with the US regarding the tariffs.
"South Africa and the United States continue to engage at the highest levels, as evidenced by the recent teleconference between President Ramaphosa and President Trump,” Lamola said.
“While discussions on issues such as the 30% unilateral trade tariffs imposed by the US highlight areas of concern, the bilateral relationship remains resilient.
"We are continuing to hold several strategic meetings at various political and governmental levels, including a recent meeting between the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States of America, Mr David Greene.
“Deputy Minister Alvin Botes and his counterpart, Deputy Secretary of State Mr Christopher Landau, also engaged via video conference recently, discussing matters of mutual concern, including trade, geopolitical issues, and domestic matters.
“These engagements are ongoing and we will be hosting a US congressional staff delegation from the House of Foreign Affairs Committee."
Lamola responded to US concerns about black economic empowerment laws and the recently released US State Department's 2024 report that claimed the human rights situation had "significantly worsened” in South Africa.
The report cited the Expropriation Act as enabling potential seizures of farmland without compensation and remarked that there had been 447 farm murders from October 2023 to September 2024.
It highlighted inflammatory rhetoric, including the Economic Freedom Fighters' use of the song ‘Kill the Boer’ and government inaction on such incitement.
Lamola dismissed the report as inaccurate and said the country was “assessing” the laws that the US was concerned about.
"On domestic matters ranging from Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (and the) Expropriation Act, we have reiterated that these are matters which are firmly within the grasp of the South African people and are continuously being debated and assessed,” Lamola said.
“Furthermore, in relation to assertions of human rights violations as contained in the latest US Human Rights 2024 report, we reiterate that allegations of State-sponsored violations of human rights are not factual.”
