AfriForum is calling on the nine smaller parties in the government of national unity (GNU) to formally lodge a protest against the ANC's handling of South Africa's relationship with the United States. The organisation believes remarks by Ronald Lamola, minister of international relations and cooperation, could further damage the already strained relationship between the two countries. The appeal follows comments from Lamola that the American ambassador, Leo Brent Bozell III, should "come out of the kitchen" if he is tired of talks.
Ernst van Zyl, head of public relations at AfriForum, says the ANC should not act as if it has a mandate to govern the country alone. AfriForum argues that the GNU's 2024 Statement of Intent requires policy matters to be handled by consensus and wants the dispute to be referred to the GNU's dispute resolution mechanism (clearing house)The organisation says it is not aware that the matter has already been discussed by that forum.
The Solidariteit movement, which includes AfriForum and Solidariteit, has made five proposals to help resolve the dispute between Pretoria and Washington. The proposals address race-based legislation, rural security, property rights, the Kill the Boerslogan and the American refugee programme. The movement says the American government has given broad approval in principle to the proposals, but emphasises that further talks with both governments are necessary. This is not confirmation that a formal agreement has been reached.
Bozell made comments on 4 October in an interview with Fox News criticising President Cyril Ramaphosa's handling of the Kill the Boerslogan and South Africa's race-based policy. According to the report, the ambassador said American government requests have not been sufficiently addressed. The interview reflects the American ambassador's position and is not in itself a new formal decision by the American government.
Dirco issued a statement on 16 September criticising American visa restrictions and what the department described as a misrepresentation of South Africa's domestic policy. The department emphasised that South Africa, as a sovereign nation, has the right to adopt legislation addressing historical racial inequality. The diplomatic differences between the two countries thus remain an important part of the background to AfriForum's appeal.
Sources: AfriForum, Solidariteit, Fox News, Dirco
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
