
SA's ties with U.S. adversaries could make it difficult for Trump to be receptive to Pretoria, says Moeletsi Mbeki
JOHANNESBURG - Political economist Moeletsi Mbeki has said South Africa's relationships with U.S. adversaries will make it more difficult for President Donald Trump to be receptive to Pretoria.
President Cyril Ramaphosa's meeting with Trump is scheduled to take place at the White House on Wednesday.
Among South Africa's desires is to fix its rocky diplomatic ties with the United States.
ALSO READ: 'Trump and his team are clear, they want SA back into the Western camp' - Moeletsi Mbeki
The Trump administration's discontent is driven by unfounded claims that white Afrikaners are being targeted by racially motivated legislation.
Mbeki believes it will take significant effort to persuade Trump to soften his position on South Africa.
"They feel South Africa hasn't got the autonomy within Brics, that it more or less takes its marching orders from the Russians and the Chinese," said Mbeki.

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Eyewitness News
2 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Mass lay-offs at Lesotho garment factories as US tariffs bite
On 2 April, Jane*, a worker at Leo Garments clothing factory in Lesotho was sent home. She is one of many workers left sitting at home as Lesotho faces a potential 50% tariff hike from the United States. Until the Trump administration introduced a 10% tariff, Lesotho exported duty free to the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). An additional 40% tariff was suspended, pending negotiations. But as US buyers weigh the prospect of an imminent hefty tariff, new orders have dried up, forcing many garment factories in Lesotho to suspend production lines. 'Firms that we met are planning a three-month closure, but if there's no change by September, they may pull out completely,' warns United Textile Employees Union (UNITE) secretary-general Solong Senohe. 'If the tariffs were only 10%, they say they would have no problem staying in Lesotho and their buyers would not have a problem of placing orders. Now Lesotho has a hanging 50% tariff, and no one knows when it will be enforced.' When Senohe spoke to GroundUp, he had just come from a meeting with Lesotho Precious Garments, who told him no new orders had been placed after the 50% tariff announcement. In a letter to UNITE, Precious Garments stated that it is 'facing a great shortage of orders'. Similar letters were issued last month by TZICC Clothing Manufacturers and Maseru-E-Textile, requesting meetings with UNITE over imminent layoffs. According to Senohe: 'The entire industry is affected … I recently spoke with Nien Hsing International management, and they said that by the end of July, all their American orders would be finished.' '80% of our clothing exports go to the US, while only 20% go to South Africa,' said Senohe. The country already faces extreme unemployment. A 2024 Lesotho Labour Force Survey found that 39% of youth aged 15–35 are unemployed. 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They had seen workers at other factories laid off without pay. Shop steward Mathuso Tlale said they became alarmed when they learned that some of the Chinese employers were selling fridges, microwaves and general household items. Maitumeleng Saoane, whose job is to record hourly production at the factory, cited a 2023 example when the owners of a factory vanished over a weekend, leaving unpaid wages. On Friday, workers held a work stoppage and eventually walked out. On Monday, they found the gates locked and police cars guarding the premises. Union leaders were allowed in to meet the factory owners. Afterwards, National Clothing Textile and Allied Workers Union secretary general Sam Mokhele told workers they would have to stay home for three months starting July. He said the employers said they had not budgeted for severance pay, but had agreed to pay those who had worked for the company for two years or more, M1,000 (R1,000) per month. 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Deputy president of the Lesotho Textile Exporters Association Ricky Chang, who is also a director of Nien Hsing Textiles, said US importers are waiting to see if any trade agreement can be reached and at what tariff level. Nien Hsing Textiles produces Levi's jeans in Lesotho. If the full 50% tariff is implemented, Chang said, the factories will close or move to other countries. He said some factories have already planned for this and are in discussion with trade unions. 'Lesotho's textile sector will need the government to act quickly and achieve good results as soon as possible with its US counterparts.' APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT In a letter on 5 May to Prime Minister Matekane, UNITE said, 'Thousands of Basotho workers are facing three months lay-off without pay'. The union called for discussions with government on how to subsidise workers to mitigate their plight. On Wednesday, union representatives met Minister of Trade Mokhethi Shelile and Minister of Labour and Employment Tšeliso Mokhosi. UNITE deputy secretary general Potloloane Monare shared a report on the meeting. The report said the ministers had held virtual meetings with US officials. 'A final decision on the tariffs will be made by July 8, 2025 … But it looks likely that a 10% tariff will be applied to all African countries.' The report said the government said it lacked the resources to provide financial support for workers sent home and would assess options. Meanwhile, thousands of workers like Jane will be sent home when factories complete existing orders. Jane can hardly pay her bills. She is weighing up immigrating to Newcastle. 'I don't want to go illegally, but I'm running out of options,' she said. She has four children to support. * not her real name This article first appeared on GroundUp. Read the original article here.

IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
SA is regressing on the advancements in female leadership and localisation
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TimesLIVE
3 hours ago
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China says it will remove all tariffs on African exports to boost trade
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