The African National Congress (ANC) has responded to US Ambassador Brent Bozell’s recent opinion piece in Daily Maverick, in which he outlined five demands for South Africa to improve its relationship with the United States. ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula stated that while the party welcomes candor from the US administration, it will not bend to pressure on issues such as land reform, the judiciary, and Black Economic Empowerment (BEE). Mbalula emphasized that South Africa is a sovereign democracy that will not be dictated to.
Mbalula expressed disappointment that Bozell’s tone has turned out to be less cooperative than initially expected. During Bozell’s Senate confirmation hearing, he had struck a positive and cooperative tone, but his recent statements have revealed a more confrontational approach. Mbalula noted that Bozell has publicly aligned himself with AfriForum, a group with historical ties to the Ossewabrandwag and its alleged links to Nazism during World War II.
Bozell’s article outlines the US Administration’s “Five Asks” of South Africa, which Mbalula described as demands rather than requests. The first ask is for President Ramaphosa to condemn the singing of the slogan “Kill the Boer,” which the ANC has already addressed. Mbalula stated that the ANC has made it clear that its members will not be allowed to sing the slogan, even if the Constitutional Court has ruled that it is not hate speech.
Mbalula emphasized that South Africa is a society governed by the rule of law, with robust legislation against hate speech and incitement to violence. He noted that organizations like AfriForum have used these legal avenues to raise their grievances and that Bozell cannot reasonably ask the President to treat an independent court’s judgment as though it were an executive instruction.
The second ask is for South Africa to prioritize rural crime with a funded plan. Mbalula noted that there is already a National Rural Safety Strategy in place, which covers farms, smallholdings, and surrounding communities. He stated that the discussion should focus on whether the strategy is effective, where it is failing, and what resources and accountability will improve it.
Mbalula disputed Bozell’s framing of rural crime as a targeted racial issue, stating that the majority of victims of rural and farm crimes are Black South Africans. He emphasized that every death in rural areas warrants attention and that the legacy of Apartheid has contributed to the current state of rural areas.
On the issue of expropriation without compensation, Mbalula acknowledged that the US has historical concerns about arbitrary seizure of private property. However, he noted that South Africa has no such history and that the ANC is committed to implementing its constitutional principles. Mbalula emphasized that South Africa seeks an equal partnership with the US, rather than being dictated to.
Key points
- The ANC has pushed back against US demands on land reform, courts, and BEE, emphasizing its commitment to South Africa's constitutional principles.
- US Ambassador Brent Bozell has outlined five demands for South Africa to improve its relationship with the US, which the ANC has described as pressure tactics.
- The ANC has emphasized its commitment to addressing rural crime and implementing its National Rural Safety Strategy, while disputing Bozell’s framing of the issue as a racial one.
