EFF backs government in rejecting US State Department's human rights report
Image: File
The EFF and the South African government have come together to dismiss the recent United States State Department Human Rights Report, calling out the US for its hypocrisy on human rights issues.
The report claimed that South Africa's human rights record has "significantly worsened," and documented several instances of arbitrary or unlawful killings committed by the government or its agents. But both the EFF and government claim this assessment is flawed and biased.
It also claimed that the EFF incited violence against Afrikaner farmers, claiming that the party achieved this by reintroducing the contentious song 'Kill the Boer' song at its gatherings and through other acts of incitement.
The report said that a provincial police commissioner confirmed in July that police had fatally shot at least 40 criminal suspects in shoot-outs since April.
A January report from the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) was also referenced.
This report detailed the 2021 unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, which led to 337 deaths and 3,400 arrests.
However, both the EFF and the the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) criticised the US report for applying double standard on human rights.
The EFF pointed out that the US has a history of using human rights narratives to justify sanctions, isolation, and even military aggression against other nations.
"It is the same tactic used in Iraq under the lies of 'weapons of mass destruction', which left over a million people dead while US corporations looted oil fields,' EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo said.
"The US has no moral standing to lecture any nation on human rights. This is a country that cages migrant children in detention centers; that has rolled back reproductive rights and stripped millions of women of the freedom to control their bodies,"
The party also criticised the report for selectively presenting incidents of police brutality while ignoring the broader context of South Africa's struggle against violent crime.
"These cases, picked from our broader struggle against violent crime, are inflated to serve Washington's narrative that our nation is unfit to govern itself," the EFF said.
'This report was clearly crafted to smear South Africa for daring to assert its sovereignty, reclaim its land, and stand in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of the world, particularly the people of Palestine,' Thambo said.
The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation's spokesperson Chrispin Phiri also expressed profound disappointment with the report, describing it as "inaccurate and deeply flawed."
Phiri said the report's reliance on contextual information and discredited accounts is highly concerning.
"The report cites an incident involving the deaths of farm workers and, despite the matter being actively adjudicated by our independent judiciary, misleadingly presents it as an extrajudicial killing," Phiri explained.
The government noted that South Africa operates a transparent system where information is freely available from law enforcement agencies and Chapter 9 institutions, which are constitutionally mandated to protect and advance human rights.
The government also noted the irony that the US, having exited the UN Human Rights Council, would seek to produce one-sided fact-free reports without any due process or engagement.
"This is particularly striking given the significant and documented concerns about human rights within the United States, including the treatment of refugees and breaches in due process by its agencies, such as ICE," the government said.
"In contrast to the US report, the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva has praised South Africa's Land Expropriation Act, signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa, as a "critical step in addressing the country's racially imbalanced land ownership".
This recognition underscores the integrity of South Africa's legislative processes aimed at rectifying historical injustices in a constitutional and human-rights-based manner,' Phiri said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
27 minutes ago
- TimesLIVE
We're cleaning up: Correctional services minister opens prison bakery
Correctional services minister Pieter Groenewald says awaiting trial prisoners, unemployed detainees and thousands of foreigners in South African jails are costing taxpayers millions. 'We have about six inmates who have been awaiting trial for more than 10 years. There are ways in terms of legislation where we can request for them to go back to court. But it's not very successful,' said Groenewald. Groenewald was speaking at the opening of a bakery at the Westville correctional facility on Thursday. He was accompanied by national commissioner Samuel Thobakgale. Groenewald said another problem which contributed to overcrowding was that more than 3,000 remand detainees could not afford to pay bail of R3,000 or less. Groenewald said there was a process in place to establish a bail fund to alleviate this. He said there were more than 26,000 foreigners detained at correctional facilities, 13,000 of whom were detainees. 'I hope that by next year this time the department would have legislation in place so we can deport them to their countries of origin,' said Groenewald. He said foreigners were costing the taxpayers more than R11m a month. 'If they want to continue with their criminality they should do it in their own country,' he said. He said with the bakery producing 3,840 loaves daily, more than 50 inmates were benefiting from the much-needed skills training for which inmates received certificates. 'That is very important because it ensues that inmates are part of rehabilitation so when they leave the prison they are self-sufficient and can reintegrate into the society,' said Groenewald. He said the department wanted to set up 20 bakeries in correctional facilities by 2028. 'We serve the people of South Africa to the benefit of taxpayers. With this initiative we are able to save around R3m annually on the bakery,' said Groenewald. He said the department had spent more than R7m to build and establish the bakery, which he deemed to be a investment. 'A loaf of bread costs us R8 compared with the R23 we were paying external suppliers,' he said.
Daily Maverick
27 minutes ago
- Daily Maverick
ICJ climate opinion shows the power of youth and Global South solidarity
The unanimous decision clarifies governments' obligations and provides a precedent for human rights-based cases in Africa. In 2019, law students in the Pacific Island state of Vanuatu were frustrated by the injustice of who pollutes the Earth versus who suffers the consequences. Their decision to explore legal recourse resulted in a rare act of Global South solidarity and the first-ever International Court of Justice (ICJ) opinion on climate change. Africa has much to gain from the opinion. There are also lessons about focused collective action and pursuing legal pathways to compel climate action. On 23 July, the ICJ judges found that climate change posed an 'urgent and existential threat' and that governments were legally required to protect the climate system as a precondition for upholding human rights, and to address damages already created. The opinion stated that 'failure of a state to take appropriate action to protect the climate system from [greenhouse gas] GHG emissions — including through fossil fuel production, fossil fuel consumption, the granting of fossil fuel exploration licences or the provision of fossil fuel subsidies — may constitute an internationally wrongful act… attributable to that [state]'. The ICJ opinion is not legally binding but clarifies state responsibilities. It also demands that governments regulate and hold the private sector accountable through mechanisms that include compliance, emissions accounting and risk mitigation. It requires states to uphold international climate change agreements, namely the Paris Agreement. The opinion opens the door for low-emissions groups and countries — many in Africa — to push high-emissions nations to stronger action or seek compensation. It could significantly change conversations around climate change in Africa, and is a triumph of collective action among low-income and climate-vulnerable countries. The 2019 campaign was spearheaded by the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, who urged national leaders to take human rights and climate change to the ICJ. In 2021 Vanuatu announced it would seek an ICJ opinion on climate change. For 18 months, the country lobbied other United Nations (UN) members to support its request. In 2023, after the matter was put before the UN General Assembly with 132 co-sponsors, all 193 member states agreed to approach the court. Youth advocacy As a result, climate inaction now constitutes a matter of international law. Vanuatu's successful campaign also shows that collective youth advocacy can set a global agenda and enable change. For years, youth have lobbied at UN conferences, organised campaigns, pressured corporations and engaged policymakers. The ICJ opinion reaffirms litigation as an effective tool for youth to demand action and rights protection. Two examples show how African youth have already taken steps in this direction. In 2024, South African youth led the #CancelCoal campaign, which included, among others, the African Climate Alliance. The campaign won a landmark high court case, overturning government plans for a new 1,500 MW coal-fired power project. The judge found that the government had not fully considered the impact on children's rights, particularly to a healthy environment. In 2012, a group of minor children in Uganda filed Mbabazi and Others vs The Attorney-General and National Environment Management Authority for failing to address climate change. After 13 years, the case has yet to be concluded. The ICJ opinion offers global legitimacy that could bolster African youth's demands from their governments and courts, providing a powerful rallying point to frame climate litigation regarding human rights. Young people in Africa should strategically advocate and build transnational coalitions as part of a global effort. Vanuatu comprises a collection of islands with a population of just 300,000. It continuously loses territory and arable land due to rising sea levels. Despite its size, the country has been at the forefront of climate justice for decades. At the first UN Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in 1991, Vanuatu led the call for a justice mechanism for countries bearing the brunt of climate change despite contributing the least. Small Island Developing States in Africa, the Pacific and Caribbean have worked collectively to maximise their influence. The ICJ opinion is significant for Africa. Despite contributing only about 3%-4% of historical emissions, the continent suffers the worst impacts. These include biodiversity loss, water scarcity, reduced food production, loss of life and reduced economic growth. At the end of 2024, 9.8 million people were displaced internally by climate-related events, mainly in Africa. The ICJ opinion should embolden African actors to amplify this asymmetry as a climate justice matter that compels global accountability and reparations, and in negotiations for more equitable climate finance. By framing climate change as a human rights issue, the ICJ provides a precedent for other rights-based cases and a mandate for countries to strengthen climate laws. Most African legal systems have a limited appetite for climate change due to there being few precedents, procedural backlogs and insufficient capacity. In May 2025, a coalition of African lawyers and civil society groups requested an advisory opinion from the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights on the obligations of states in the face of the climate emergency. The ICJ case is the largest to date, with 91 written and 107 oral statements. Countries including Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Namibia and Kenya argued that climate change adversely affected human rights. Historic greenhouse gas emitters and petrostates argued against linking human rights to climate impacts, and for treaties like the Paris Agreement to govern climate change. South Africa — Africa's largest emitter (7% of global emissions) — also argued against a rights-based approach, saying its own climate vulnerabilities and complex socioeconomic circumstances caused an unjust burden. China and India have made similar claims to avoid paying into climate funds, which in turn have been used by countries such as the US to withdraw from climate agreements. How the ICJ opinion will be applied, who uses it, and how states respond remain to be seen. Options for African countries to seek reparations or debt cancellation are open for exploration. DM Aimée-Noël Mbiyozo is a Senior Research Consultant, Migration and Kgaugelo Mkumbeni is a Research Officer, Climate Risk and Human Security, Institute for Security Studies (ISS).
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Mashatile warns of serious consequences if SA can't secure trade deal with US
Government will send another delegation to the US to push for better trade terms. Deputy President Paul Mashatile has warned of the consequences South Africa will face if the country fails to secure a trade a deal with the United States (US), following the imposition of a 30% tariff. Mashatile was speaking at the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM) show in Gqeberha on Thursday. His visit to the Eastern Cape came as negotiations with the US continue. ALSO READ: US tariffs: Here's why talks over trade deal have been 'complex' Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump's administration introduced a 30% tariff on all South African exports. Vehicle and auto component products have separately been subject to a 25% tariff since April. South Africa has since submitted a new trade proposal aimed at reducing these tariff levels. Mashatile warns of US tariffs impact During his speech, Mashatile acknowledged that the automotive and manufacturing sectors, while historically a 'success story', are currently navigating 'tough times'. 'The automotive sector in South Africa is one of the country's most strategically important and internationally linked industries, accounting for 22.6% of manufacturing output and 5.2% of the country's GDP,' he remarked. He highlighted that the automotive industry employs more than 115 000 people, with over 80 000 working in the component sector, which exported R62.5 billion worth of products in 2024. With unemployment at 33.2%, Mashatile warned that the issue remains critical. READ MORE: US tariffs: SA sends new proposal but no changes to laws NAACAM has recorded 12 company closures in the past two years, affecting 4 000 workers. 'We must never allow the loss of these gains because of external and internal pressures. I say this with concern because the employment levels in the sector have been under strain due to ongoing economic pressures and reduced production volumes,' he said. Mashatile stressed the importance of diversifying investment and expanding trade partnerships. 'It is for this reason that the Cabinet has adopted a new trade proposal to the United States that aims not just to settle the 30 percent tariff but also has ramifications for over 130 other trading partners who may reroute products into the South African market.' He reiterated that failure to reach an 'amicable' trade agreement with the US would result in 'repercussions felt throughout the entire value chain'. Watch Mashatile's speech below: This, Mashatile said, could lead to volume cutbacks for South African suppliers serving domestic original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that export to the US – affecting production planning, employment and investment decisions. 'South African automobiles and components would see a direct rise in the landed cost in the US market. 'Because of this, they would be unable to compete with goods from nations that have continued preferential or zero-duty access, such as those in the United States, Mexico, Canada Agreement.' New delegation headed to the US Mashatile also announced that government will send another delegation to the US to push for better trade terms. 'The imposed tariffs threaten to disrupt well-established trade flows and weaken the global competitiveness of South Africa's automotive manufacturing ecosystem. 'However, South Africa remains resilient and steadfast in its efforts to grow and protect our economy. We will continue to engage with the United States to identify practical solutions. 'The president will once again be sending a delegation to the White House to engage with the US administration on this matter.' A previous delegation – led by President Cyril Ramaphosa and including Cabinet ministers, Cosatu President Zingiswa Losi, businessman Johann Rupert, and professional golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen – visited the White House in Washington DC in May in an effort to ease tensions with the Trump administration. NOW READ: Business confidence increases, but will come under pressure from US tariff
