South Africa's Response to Trump's Hostility: A Call for Unity
Image: IOL / Ron AI
South Africa is a proud and sovereign nation, forged in the crucible of struggle and defined by its unyielding resilience. Since Donald Trump's return to the White House on January 20, his administration has undertaken a series of hostile actions that target not only our country, but the dignity of our people.
The humiliation of our President during a White House visit, televised to a global audience, was a calculated affront. More alarmingly, the US has now withdrawn vital support from South Africa's life-saving antiretroviral programme—an act as callous as it is politically motivated.
Most recently, Trump imposed a punitive 30% tariff on all South African goods entering the United States, thinly veiled under the guise of trade policy. Yet the world can see clearly: these actions are retaliatory, driven by South Africa's moral and legal stance against the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Our government's bold leadership at the International Court of Justice has struck a global chord—and incurred Trump's vindictive wrath.
But if our history under apartheid has taught us anything, it is this: South Africans are unbreakable. In the face of adversity, we rise.
It is now imperative that ordinary South Africans respond—not with anger, but with purpose. Let us launch a nationwide 'Buy Local' campaign, urging citizens to purchase only South African-made products. In doing so, we bolster our economy, safeguard jobs, and build a more self-reliant nation.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad Loading
Just as millions of Canadians are now boycotting US-made goods in protest, so too must we. Let us collectively reject American-made vehicles, food, electronics, and other products. Avoid buying tickets for any American artists coming to perform in this country! Let every citizen become an advocate—on social media, in communities, at schools and workplaces. This must be a people's movement, initiated from the ground up, with or without formal government backing.
Let us seize this moment to assert our dignity, rally the continent, and inspire similar movements across Africa. Together, we can turn Donald Trump's hostility into an opportunity—to rebuild, to reimagine, and to reaffirm our commitment to putting South Africa first.
Rozario Brown
Cape Town
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Eyewitness News
3 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Brazil seeks WTO relief against Trump tariffs: government
BRASILIA - Brazil on Wednesday approached the World Trade Organization for relief against trade tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, sources in the government of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told AFP. The 50-percent tariff on several Brazilian goods went into force on Wednesday over what Trump has termed a "witch hunt" against his far-right ally Jair Bolsonaro, the former president on trial for plotting a coup. The sources said Brazil's government had filed a request for consultations with the US mission to the WTO, the first formal step in the trade body's dispute settlement process. Trump's latest tariff salvo raised duties on Brazil from 10 percent to 50 percent for key exports including coffee, beef and sugar. Broad exemptions on products such as orange juice and civil aircraft somewhat softened the blow. Brazil's Vice President Geraldo Alckmin previously told journalists the new tariff would apply to about 36 percent of the country's exports to the United States. In an executive order last week, the Trump administration lashed out at Brazilian officials for "unjustified criminal charges" against Bolsonaro, on trial for allegedly plotting a coup to wrest back power after losing the 2022 presidential elections to Lula. Trump's order, which also criticized Brazil's digital regulation, charged that the Lula government's recent policies and actions threatened the US economy, national security, and foreign policy.
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
South Africa faces economic repercussions from new US tariffs
The Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition has expressed deep concern over the impending 30% import tariff that the United States plans to impose on certain South African exports, effective from August 7. Image: IOL Graphics/Se-Anne Rall The Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition has expressed deep concern over the impending 30% import tariff that the United States plans to impose on certain South African exports, effective from August 7. This significant development has raised red flags about the potential repercussions for key sectors of the South African economy. During a recent meeting in June, the committee engaged with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) to assess the state of South Africa's trading relationship with the US, as well as with other international partners. The newly announced US tariffs, which will affect multiple countries alongside South Africa, have serious implications for strategic sectors such as automotive, agriculture—particularly citrus—and steel, all integral to South Africa's economic fabric and job market. Historically, South Africa has enjoyed a robust trade relationship with the United States, which stands as the country's second-largest trading partner. In 2024, South African exports to the US accounted for approximately 8% of the nation's total global exports, valued at around R156.6 billion. This export composition is telling, with around 43% comprising manufactured products, predominantly autos and vehicle components, alongside mining commodities (50%) and agricultural goods (7%). Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ As the largest importer of US goods in sub-Saharan Africa, the South African economy has been bolstered by mutual trade benefits, generating a trade surplus with imports valued at about R120.2 billion in 2024. This partnership has fostered an environment where over 600 US companies, including prominent names like Ford, Coca-Cola, and Google, operate in South Africa, contributing to job creation on both sides: 132,000 jobs in South Africa and 7,000 in the US from South African corporations. In light of the new tariffs, the committee has raised alarms regarding the direct impact on the competitiveness of South African exports. The additional tariff will likely inflate prices for South African goods in the US market, potentially eroding demand and disrupting established value chains. Such changes could lead to declines in local production and significant job losses if alternative markets cannot be secured. There is also concern over how the tariffs may alter the current composition of South African exports. With approximately 43% of South African goods destined for the US being manufactured products, any reductions in this sector could pose severe challenges, especially when compared to the 38.7% of global exports that consist of manufactured goods. To mitigate these risks, South Africa recently introduced the 'Butterfly Strategy,' aimed at fostering industrialisation and diversifying trade partnerships. Key components of this strategy include a focus on product and market diversification, enhanced trade negotiations, and streamlined protocols to adapt to global challenges. The committee, alongside the government, urges renewed negotiations with the US, emphasising the crucial need for a viable trade and investment agreement to tackle ongoing issues.
eNCA
5 hours ago
- eNCA
Brazil seeks WTO relief against Trump tariffs
BRASILIA - Brazil on Wednesday approached the World Trade Organization (WTO) for relief against a hefty trade tariff imposed by President Donald Trump on more than a third of US-bound exports from the Latin American powerhouse. The 50-percent tariff on several Brazilian goods went into force Wednesday over what Trump has termed a "witch hunt" against his far-right ally Jair Bolsonaro, the former president on trial for plotting a coup. Sources in the government of incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told AFP Brasilia had filed a request for consultations with the US mission to the WTO -- the first formal step in the trade body's dispute settlement process. Trump's latest tariff salvo raised duties on Brazil from 10 percent to 50 percent for key exports including coffee, beef and sugar. Exempt were nearly 700 other exports including civilian planes, orange juice and pulp, Brazil nuts, and some iron, steel and aluminum products. Brazil's Vice President Geraldo Alckmin previously told journalists the new tariff would apply to about 36 percent of the country's exports to the United States, equal to trade of about $14.5 billion last year. Trump's Brazil tariff is among the highest imposed on US trading partners and was framed in openly political terms, sweeping aside centuries-old trade ties and a surplus Brasilia put at $284 million last year. 'Judge and jury' In an executive order last week, the Trump administration lashed out at Brazilian officials for "unjustified criminal charges" against Bolsonaro, on trial for allegedly plotting to wrest back power after losing the 2022 presidential election to Lula. Trump's order also charged that the Lula government's recent policies and actions threatened the US economy, national security, and foreign policy. US tensions with Brazil are not likely to dissipate soon, with a Brazilian judge on Monday placing Bolsonaro under house arrest pending the outcome of his trial for contravening a social media ban. The judge, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, presides over Bolsonaro's trial and was himself hit with financial sanctions this week as Washington claimed he had "taken it upon himself to be judge and jury in an unlawful witch hunt." Moraes has clashed repeatedly with the far-right in Brazil, and with tech titan Elon Musk over the spread of online misinformation. Bolsonaro risks decades in prison if found guilty on the coup charges that had allegedly also included discussions to assassinate Lula and other senior officials. The tariff hike on Brazilian goods came a day before a separate wave of higher duties on dozens of economies ranging from the European Union to Taiwan. Analysts at Pantheon Macroeconomics estimate the pending increases would boost the average effective tariff rate for US imports to nearly 20 percent.
