Dirk Hermann
Source: Maroela Media
The ANC is hysterical about Pres. Donald Trump’s statements about expropriation and discrimination against some people in South Africa. “It’s the evil AfriForum’s fault,” they claimed. “Disinformation!” they screamed.
This is not the case. This is the ANC’s fault, 100%. This is about their actions over the years. However, Trump said much more than merely referring to expropriation. His frustration with South Africa goes beyond just one law.
The ANC’s foreign policy is reckless. In a video Ramaphosa scolds Trump. The ANC brought a case against Israel, (America’s ally) before the International Court of Justice, turning some of the powerful Jewish lobby groups in America into a bitter enemy.
The ANC is centralising more and more and it wants to nationalise healthcare. They are trampling on the rights of a minority’s right to mother tongue education. They have crazy racial laws that prevent the world’s richest man, the ex-South African and Trump confidant, Elon Musk, from doing business in South Africa. They are friends with all of America’s enemies.
Initially, they had invited Vladimir Putin to attend the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg even though a warrant of arrest was issued for him. This after the South African Navy had conducted joint naval exercises with China and Russia on the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine, while military cooperation with the US has all but disappeared.
The world is reporting on state capture. Judge Zondo’s extensive reports implicating hundreds of people in state capture were handed to the state. No one gets prosecuted, while many of those implicated have been appointed to the cabinet and hold senior positions in the ANC and in various government departments.
And then there is the matter of expropriation. Private ownership and property rights form the core of a modern economy. Any type of uncertainty about those rights scares investors away. “No, the current law is harmless,” the ANC claims but the “harmless” law exists within a context.
The context is an ANC that makes it explicitly clear that their goal is to amend section 25 of the Constitution. At the ANC’s 54th policy conference they decided to proceed with the amendment to the Constitution.
Ramaphosa said: Land will be expropriated without compensation, and this will be done in a manner that does not harm the economy.” Gwede Mantashe said: You shouldn’t own more than 12 000 hectares of land, and therefore if you own more, it should be taken without compensation”.
The ANC failed to have section 25 of the Constitution amended. After having failed in Parliament to do so they indicated that they were still committed to land reform, and that they would continue to use policy and legislation to achieve this goal.
Ramaphosa subsequently signed the latest Expropriation Act into law. This is rightly so not an amendment to the Constitution. However, in the larger context of what the ANC intends it is dangerous though. It falls within a context of legislation to achieve their goals.
Given their intention, the Expropriation Act is dangerous in ANC hands. In the hands of a reckless ANC zero compensation and public interest become meaningful. For the ANC an amendment to the Constitution is first prize. Therefore, there is sound reason for concern that they would abuse the second prize to achieve what is, for them, the first prize.
The ANC, with a reckless domestic and foreign policy spanning many years, has alienated the world’s largest economy and one of South Africa’s main trade partners. This has climaxed under the administration of the disrupter Pres. Donald Trump.
Over the past few years, and after numerous visits to South Africa, Republicans and Democrats in the US Congress have become increasingly uneasy about the direction the country is moving into. The former Minister of International Relations and Cooperation’s references to America as “imperialist” and to Iran as “old friends” have contributed to the tensions.
Meanwhile, Republicans and Democrats are beginning to ask questions. A bill has been introduced that calls for a review of the relationship between South Africa and the US. A public hearing on the matter took place in Washington DC. The South African embassy was almost totally conspicuous by its absence. The private sector and civil society organisations such as Solidarity stepped in, demanding that ordinary South Africans not be punished.
And then came Trump’s angry statement with the ANC not accepting any blame but rather pointing the finger. Thank you for the compliment to AfriForum for being the reason behind the decision by the world’s most powerful man.
However, this is not the case. The reason for the cuts in funding that impact sick people, the scaring off of investors that impact poor people and the possibility of South Africa being kicked out of AGOA impacting ordinary workers, lies with the ANC.
This has nothing to do with AfriForum or Solidarity, but has everything to do with an arrogant, reckless ANC that does not want to accept responsibility for their actions, always wanting to shift the blame.
Solidarity and AfriForum have always acted only in the interests of South Africa. Our commitment and love lie with this country and its people. However, for 30 years the ANC has for every failure chosen to try to create scapegoats for their own crimes. In this case, we will not allow them to continue to do so.
