ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has accused the United States, under Donald Trump, of intentionally working to isolate South Africa. He described the alleged actions as “imperialist” and fuelled by misinformation.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ANC’s 16th regional conference on Thursday, Mbalula said Washington was treating South Africa as if it were “a sub-state of the United States” rather than a sovereign nation.
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He argued that the US government’s stance amounted to an effort to undermine South Africa’s independence, claiming there was a daily “determination coming from that side to isolate our country.”
US–SA Political Tensions Escalate Amid Accusations of ‘Imperialist’ Motives
Mbalula said the South African government had already begun broadening its global partnerships in response to what he called targeted hostility from Washington. He accused the Trump administration of singling out South Africa “for imperialist reasons” and alleged that the US boycotted the G20 “for no reason.”
He insisted the targeting of South Africa was based entirely on misinformation.
“South Africans, black and white, have been telling the American administration there is nothing called genocide in South Africa. So, on the basis of misinformation, they are on the rampage, targeting a peaceful nation, a democratic state,” he said.
Mbalula highlighted that South Africa had recently conducted a free and fair election, formed a government within 14 days and established a government of national unity. “No dictatorship, flourishing democracy,” he said, questioning why such a country would be targeted “for reasons that cannot be clearly explained.”
He also criticised what he called a local “fringe” that had travelled to the US and made claims that, in his view, damaged the country’s global standing.
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Asked about possible sanctions, Mbalula said recent actions by the Trump administration — including boycotting the G20 and exerting pressure on Pretoria over alleged human rights concerns — amounted to attempts at diplomatic and economic isolation.
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“These are the consequences we are reaping today as a result of their actions,” he said.
He stressed that the ANC would continue defending the country’s sovereignty. “That is what we are saying as the ANC, that we are not a sub-state of another state. Anything is possible from those people,” he said.
“They don’t think, if you can just wake up and isolate a peaceful nation like this for no reason, anything is possible.”
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Despite his criticism, Mbalula maintained that ordinary Americans supported South Africa and disagreed with Trump’s strategy. “We know that in America, citizens of the United States are with us, and they condemn what Trump is doing,” he said.
He added that Trump’s time in office was limited. “Trump will be there for two years. This madness will go.”
Mbalula concluded by noting that many Americans had stood with South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle and would “be with us with this madness of the Trump administration.”
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