'Nothing more than their ambitions': DIRCO slams Freedom Front US visit
The South African government has emphasised that it was not part of the delegation of Afrikaner politicians who visited Washington, DC, in the US.
The group that went without being directed by the government arrived back in South Africa on Wednesday.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) spokesperson Chrispin Phiri told IOL that the group was pursuing its "own agenda".
"Our experience is that State actors do not use non-state actors as intermediaries; therefore, Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) visit and subsequent pronouncements will be viewed as nothing more than their ambitions," he said.
The group includes VF Plus leader Dr Corné Mulder, the executive director of Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI), Dr Theo de Jager, and the National Employers' Association of South Africa (NEASA) chief executive Gerhard Papenfus.
Mulder claimed that they were selected and invited to the US by members of the Donald Trump administration.
"We had a successful visit and were well received. We met with people responsible for Africa in the White House, the Senate, the House of Representatives, and think tanks. It was a comprehensive visit," he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
5 minutes ago
- The Citizen
ANC to debate two centres of power in Limpopo
Both Ramathuba and Mpe have confirmed they will stand for the position of ANC provincial chair in Limpopo. The ANC's two centres of power are set to dominate discussions when Premier Phophi Ramathuba and Polokwane Mayor Makoro 'Putin' John Mpe are set to contest for the position of ANC provincial chair at the upcoming provincial elective conference. Two in the race for ANC provincial chair Both Ramathuba and Mpe have confirmed they will stand for the position, only if nominated by branches at the right time. The two centres of power policy was introduced during the 2007 Polokwane ANC national elective conference where former president Jacob Zuma toppled then-president Thabo Mbeki to become ANC president. Limpopo is currently run by a premier, Ramathuba, who is not the party's provincial chair. Now, Makoro 'Putin' John Mpe is being touted by some to be elected ANC provincial chairperson. This after he won his 'third term' bid in May at the Peter Mokaba regional elective conference. ALSO READ: Leadership battle heats up in Limpopo Asked about the province's view on the two centres of power, ANC provincial spokesperson Mathole Jimmy Machaka said: 'The view of the ANC is that the centre is one and the centre is Frans Mohlala (ANC Limpopo headquarters). It is the ANC-led government and not the other way round,' he said. Month before he died, ANC veteran Tshwenuwani Farisani said the debate on the so-called two centres of power has caused long-standing tension between the party's leadership and its governmental structures. This tension, Farisani said, has played out in the South African political landscape, with the ANC often facing challenges of whether the chairperson of the party should become the premier of the province. He said the debate often arises when the ANC's internal political dynamics clash with government policies or decisions. 'This can lead to confusion, policy inconsistencies, and challenges for effective governance,' he said. ANC Women's League to support Ramathuba On Friday, the ANC Women's League in Limpopo said it will throw its support behind Ramathuba. 'It is the position of the ANCWL in Limpopo to support any woman who stands for the position of provincial chairperson, provided she possesses the necessary skills, experience, and capacity. The ANCWL is committed to ensuring that women occupy all corridors of power,' said league provincial secretary, Tebogo Mamorobela. ALSO READ: Mbalula launches probe into Limpopo ANC election irregularities The ANC Youth League in the province has not yet decided who it will support. ANCYL provincial chair Faith Sebopela, however, said it will support the PEC's call for an early conference. 'On who should lead the province as chair is a subject for another day,' she said. Allegations of corruption Mpe's road to the ANC Limpopo headquarters as party provincial chair, and his alleged desire to then become premier, has been marred by allegations of corruption. For the past month, the mayor – who is also ANC Peter Mokaba regional chair and the South African Local Government Association (Salga) Limpopo chair – and his city manager Thuso Nemugumoni have been accused of corruption. They have also been accused of awarding municipal tenders to foreign nationals, the latest of which was last month when the municipality appointed a foreign national as director of water and sanitation. Mpe claims the accusations were orchestrated by ANC members who are 'bitter' after losing regional elections. 'These are bitter comrades who are scared of losing the provincial conference because, despite playing all the tricks in the book, they still lost the Peter Mokaba regional elective conference in May, where I was re-elected unopposed for a third term. 'Those who have proof of any corruption element against me must hand over their proof to law-enforcement agencies such as the Hawks, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), the Public Protector, and or the police,' he said. The term of office for the 10th Limpopo ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) ends in June 2026. It remains to be seen who will become the new Limpopo ANC provincial chairperson to replace the sitting chair, Stan Mathabatha. READ NEXT: Tensions erupt in Limpopo ANC after vandalism of spokesperson's bakkie
The Citizen
35 minutes ago
- The Citizen
US tariffs: SA sugarcane growers plead with Tau to help them
In addition to the US tariffs, sugarcane growers are concerned about cheap imports entering South Africa. Amid a punishing tariff increase on South Africa imposed by US President Donald Trump, sugarcane growers have asked Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau to act hastily to put into use regulations to enable the trading of local sugar without violating competition laws. Industry hit by US tariffs and foreign sugar The local industry has pinned its hopes on the exemption from anti-competition practice as a way to help them survive as they start feeling the pinch of Trump's 30% tariff hike on South African goods. The US move has exacerbated the plight of the local growers, who had been grappling with cheap imports flooding the local market. The minister published draft regulations in May that allow consultations on the procurement of more than 90% local sugar between growers, millers, retailers and food and beverage manufacturers, without the talks or agreements breaching provisions of the Competition Act. The growers at the time welcomed the minister's move, but now that the tariffs have become a reality, they want Tau to speed up the regulations to save the industry. ALSO READ: Mashatile warns of serious consequences if SA can't secure trade deal with US On Thursday, they appealed to Tau to urgently finalise the regulations. They believe government support would go a long way towards saving them from having to close shop or cut jobs. US tariffs When effected, the regulations would ease their plight as they suffer profit losses due to low volumes of exports to the US that are expected to worsen with time. The US does not grow enough of its own cane sugar and relies on imports to supplement its domestic demand. Up until earlier this year, the US controlled its sugar imports through a quota system, which meant South African sugar did not negatively impact US growers. But now the new US tariffs have made South African sugar less competitive in a crucial export market. ALSO READ: US tariffs: SA sends new proposal but no changes to laws SA Canegrowers chairperson, Higgins Mdluli, said the industryhas since asked Tau to fast-track the industry consultation process, which is yet to be scheduled, months after the public comment period on the draft exemptions closed. 'The sugar industry needs the limited exemption from competition regulations in order to have industry-wide discussions without fear of falling foul of the Competition Act. Such discussions include working towards commitments from local commercial users of sugar and retailers to use and stock mainly locally produced sugar. 'We have written to Minister Tau and urged him to act with urgency. The livelihoods of sugarcane growers depend on it,' Mdluli said. Cheap imports into SA According to Mdluli the domestic action is also critical to safeguard the industry from cheap sugar imports from countries that heavily subsidise their own sugar industries. He said the cheaper sugar does not benefit consumers, but allows importers to make higher profit margins. 'The South African sugar industry is a national asset. We support local jobs and farming, yet our market is being flooded by cheap, subsidised imports. This displaces local sugar, jeopardising countless jobs and the stability of the rural economies of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal,' Mdluli said. SA Canegrowers also urged the government to prioritise its negotiations with the US to finalise a mutually beneficial trade deal, which would include a tariff exemption for sugar or a return to the previous US quota mechanism. READ NEXT: 'It's just gone' – Trump's tariffs cost SA company R750m overnight
The Citizen
15 hours ago
- The Citizen
Dirco reviewing ministerial report on Hajj and Umrah for SA pilgrims
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the issue of the annual Hajj quota with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammad bin Salman al Saud in 2022. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) is reviewing the recommendations contained in a report about the annual Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia for South African citizens. Dirco referred to its previous media statement dated 10 February 2023, 'Establishment of the Ministerial Committee on the Efficient Management of the Annual Hajj and Umrah Pilgrimages'. Ministerial committee In that statement, former international relations minister Naledi Pandor said the mandate and role of the ministerial committee was to provide strategic direction to support the efficient management of the annual Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. Pandor said it was also to ensure that the South African pilgrims may enjoy a well-organised pilgrimage in an appropriate system under the auspices of the relevant ministry of Hajj and Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ALSO READ: King Salman invites Ramaphosa for state visit to Saudi Arabia Ramaphosa and MBS Pandor also informed the ministerial committee that President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the issue of the annual quota during his state visit to Saudi Arabia on 15-16 October 2022 with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammad bin Salman al Saud. Pandor also followed up with her counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The ministerial committee at the time was chaired by ambassador Ebrahim Rasool and members included Fatima Chohan, professor Mathole Motshekga, professor Anil Sooklal, ambassador Ashraf Suliman and Zeenat Adam. Final Report Dirco spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said the ministerial committee submitted its final report to Dirco on 30 June 2025. 'The department is currently reviewing the recommendations contained in the report and is engaging with the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) to ensure alignment with constitutional and community-based principles,' he said. New framework The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia recently announced a new operational framework for the facilitation of Hajj from South Africa, effective from 2026. 'Under this new model, the traditional use of licensed tour operators will be discontinued. Instead, all service contracts will be signed directly with Saudi service providers, who will assume full responsibility for service delivery within the kingdom. Coordination will be managed through the Nusuk Masar electronic platform, under the oversight of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah,' Phiri said. Phiri said Dirco remains committed to providing consular support to South African nationals undertaking their religious obligations, including Hajj and Umrah and to 'maintaining the positive reputation of the Republic of South Africa in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia'. ALSO READ: More than a million pilgrims prepare for start of Hajj on 4 June
