Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
24 March 2025 | 12:35 CAT
2-minute read

Balancing act: SA navigates diplomatic tightrope with the US

Former South African ambassador to the US Ebrahim Rasool says while he does not regret his comments that led to his forced removal from the US, South Africa needs to mend bilateral relations with the global superpower without compromising on its core values.

Rasool arrived back on South African soil on Sunday to a hero’s welcome from hundreds of supporters from the ANC Dullah Omar region, the SA Communist Party, and trade union federation Cosatu.

Rasool addressed the crowd with a megaphone and said, “A declaration of persona non grata is meant to humiliate you. But when you return to crowds like this and with warmth… like this, then I will wear my persona non grate as a badge of dignity.”

This latest incident in the feud places South Africa in a precarious position: the country must set out to repair bilateral relations in a non-hostile manner without cowing to Washington’s bullying demands. During a press conference held by the Presidency last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson outlined ways the country aims to balance these needs. This includes halting plans to rename Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive after the United States threatened to shut down its consulate if the plans went through.

While the Presidency acknowledged the sensitivity of the situation, it asserted that it will not send an envoy to the US to defend itself against accusations leveled at SA, including that its government is confiscating land, discriminating against white South Africans, and renewing relations with Iran to develop commercial, military, and nuclear arrangements.

The US has reportedly outlined a list of demands if relations are to improve, including repealing the Expropriation Act, abandoning transformation policies, withdrawing from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel, and severing ties with Iran. These demands, described as tantamount to “overhauling domestic and foreign policy,” place President Cyril Ramaphosa in a high-stakes dilemma.

During this week’s Debrief Report, Qaanitah Hunter noted that while the government is attempting to navigate the crisis diplomatically, there is a growing concern that appeasement will only lead to further demands. “It is akin to negotiating with the mafia,” Hunter remarked.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which sustains 35 000 South African jobs, has been cited as a key pressure point in these negotiations. The question remains: Will conceding to US demands actually safeguard these jobs, or is this just the beginning of a slippery slope? “If South Africa concedes its moral standpoint, will it still have the robust economic relations we expect? The answer is probably not,” Hunter said.

Adding to the complexity is the domestic political landscape. The government’s decision to pause the renaming of Sandton Drive to Leila Khalid Drive, following U.S. threats to close its consulate, has drawn sharp criticism. Julius Malema labeled the move as “cowardice,” arguing that the ANC is bowing to external pressure. Hunter explained that the issue of foreign policy is now intertwined with internal political maneuvering, particularly as the ANC negotiates with opposition parties over the national budget.

“The most important thing now is that you have one party pulling you to the extreme right—completely conceding to Trump and tempering transformation policies—and then you have the other extreme on the left, where Julius Malema says, ‘You cannot concede at all,’” said Hunter.

With the stakes higher than ever, Ramaphosa faces a crucial decision: hold the moral high ground or bow to economic pressure. But if history is any guide, once a country starts conceding, the demands never stop.

Listen to the Debrief Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Junaid Kharsany.