South Africa would continue to engage with the US administration and other stakeholders to address the mischaracterisation of South Africa, while also strengthening diplomatic ties between the countries, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday.
The President was speaking during a Questions for Oral Reply session in the National Assembly.
“South Africa maintains its active engagement with the United States through political, diplomatic and economic channels.
“We have taken note of an executive order and recent statements by the current US administration about South Africa and aspects of our domestic and foreign policy. We have expressed concern about the mischaracterisation of the situation in South Africa, and certain [parts] of our laws and our foreign policy positions,” said Ramaphosa.
US President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order, titled ‘Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa’ last month, ordering that, as a result of the Expropriation Act, the US would not provide aid or assistance to South Africa, and that the "United States shall promote the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation".
At the time, the South African government said it remained committed to finding diplomatic solutions to any misunderstandings or disputes arising from the recently promulgated Expropriation Act 13 of 2024 and other policies.
Signed into law by President Ramaphosa in January, the Expropriation Act, states that property may not be expropriated arbitrarily or for a purpose other than a public purpose or in the public interest. It repeals the Expropriation Act of 1975 and allows for the State to expropriate land in the public interest – subject to just and equitable compensation.
At Tuesday’s session, the President highlighted that, soon after the establishment of the Government of National Unity last year, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation and the Minister and Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, undertook official visits to Washington DC for engagements with the US administration, members of Congress, business and academia.
“Following the election of President Trump in November last year, I had a telephone call with the President-Elect to congratulate him on his election and to reaffirm our commitment to strengthening relations between our two countries,” said Ramaphosa.
He also highlighted that Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool had recently been posted to Washington for his second stint as South Africa’s envoy to the United States.
Rasool’s team is engaging with stakeholders to underscore the importance of deepening economic, political, and cultural relations between the countries. – SAnews.gov.za
