Blaming Ramaphosa for US trade penalties misses the point
The Cyril Ramaphosa haters are almost beside themselves in gleeful rage, pointing their fingers at the president as being the person responsible for bringing down the wrath of US tariffs upon our heads.
Led by AfriForum, these critics claim Ramaphosa and his government did not do enough to address US concerns about the safety of whites in South Africa… and, in the process, provoked US President Donald Trump to double down and impose 30% duties on South African imports into his country.
Now, while we agree with the line of thinking that the ANC, through its incompetence, arrogance and looting, has destroyed much that was working in this country, it is actually a leap too far to think that, had Ramaphosa and his comrades not been at the helm in the Union Buildings, things might have unfolded differently for South Africa.
What is not logical, or supported by the facts of Trump's global tariff policy, is that the White House is serving out payback only to its perceived enemies.
ALSO READ: Where Trump's tariffs will hurt most
Just look at the case of Japan, or South Korea – both strong allies of the US and bulwarks against Chinese expansionism.
They have both been slapped with tariffs that were not in place before Trump embarked on what many regard as an attempt to unilaterally redefine the rules of global trade.
In reality, there is very little difference, when it comes to tariffs, whether you consider yourself a friend or enemy of the United States. You're still going to be punished.
The sooner we start facing that reality – that we are subject to the irrational whims of the Man Who Would Be King – the sooner we can start working out where our real friends and our real, long-term political, diplomatic and trade relations will lie in the future.
NOW READ: Mr President, the ball is in your court
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The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
There is no link between the name ‘Azania' and the indigenous people of South Africa
Kenneth Mokgatlhe | Published 22 minutes ago We should be asking ourselves where the word 'Azania' originates from, which language, and how it is related to the people of South Africa. There are no cultural, historical, linguistic, or political connections to the name, says the writer. Image: Picture: Henk Kruger/ Independent Newspapers The proposal of constitutional amendment by the African Transformation Movement (ATM) to change the name of South Africa to the 'Republic of Azania' is nonsensical, unnecessary, and irrelevant to the inhabitants of this place. We should be asking ourselves where the word 'Azania' originates from, which language, and how it is related to the people of South Africa. There are no cultural, historical, linguistic, or political connections to the name. It was during my time as a young and vibrant activist within the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) that I was firmly convinced that South Africa should be renamed 'Azania'. I had been persuaded by the existing argument that 'South' was merely a geographical direction and therefore did not have substantive cultural and historical connections befitting a nation's identity. However, I later realised that my comprehension of the term 'Azania' was very limited to its use within Pan Africanist and Black Consciousness discourses. Never mind my strong ideological conviction and commitment, I was unable to intellectually express a clear historical or cultural justification for the adoption of the name, nor could I trace its relevance in juxtaposition to the people, history, and identity of the country. It is important to note that the name 'Azania' has no historical or cultural connection to my people. It was never part of our vocabulary or identity. The term did not exist in our oral traditions or historical records, and my community had never encountered it before modern political movements began to invoke it. It is important to note that the pre-colonial South African society was home to various independent kingdoms and queendoms, each governed by its rulers. I descend from the Bahurutshe, one of the largest sub-groups of the Batswana people, who previously occupied the area now known as the Marico region or Zeerust. Our ancestors referred to their kingdom as Kaditshwene (a place of baboons) and Tshwenyane (a little baboon), an ancient twin-city settlement that thrived between 1300 to 1884. Like many other indigenous polities, it functioned as a sovereign polity, free from foreign or external domination. There was a dramatic shift in the geopolitical landscape after the Berlin Conference of 1884, where European powers gathered to partition Africa among themselves, which laid the foundation for the modern nation-states we recognise today. As a result, we — descendants of various kingdoms — were forced to adapt to these new political realities and form countries under Western-imposed frameworks. A country known as the Union of South Africa was established in 1910, led and governed by white minority rule. A referendum was held in 1960, where white South Africans decided to leave the Commonwealth, became independent, and referred to themselves as the Republic of South Africa on 31 May 1961. While the name 'South Africa' is descriptive of a geographic location, the name gives a strong cultural, political, and historical connection. It reminds us of different epochs in our history and how we interacted with other countries. The name South Africa is not unique in the world, as other countries have historically adopted names which are geographically descriptive of their land, such as South Sudan, Central African Republic (CAR), North and South Korea, North Macedonia, and East Timor. My discomfort at the term Azania was vindicated after I came across one of the compelling writings of South African freedom fighter and journalist Paul Trewhela, who is now based in the United Kingdom. Through his sharp historical analysis, he provides a well-substantiated account of the origins of the name 'Azania', demonstrating that it was a term imposed by slave traders/masters to demean the Black Africans in some parts of East Africa. Trewhela contends that the name 'Azania' does not bear any link to the indigenous peoples of South Africa and carries connotations or implications of oppression rather than liberation. His esteemed scholarship helped clarify that the name 'Azania' lacks authentic historical, cultural, political, or linguistic connections to South Africa and its people, reinforcing my earlier doubts about its relevance and appropriateness as a national name. 'The name 'Azania' celebrates the centuries of enslavement of black Africans by Islamist Arab imperialism down the east coast of Africa. It is a disgrace for reactionary ideologists to be using this concocted name to replace the name South Africa,' he remarked. This name, 'Azania,' is primarily used by individuals who identify themselves as revolutionaries or radicals within South Africa's academic, political, and social spheres. It is largely preferred by black radicals in academia and by political formations considered to be on the far left, such as the PAC, the Azanian People's Organisation (AZAPO), the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and trade unions affiliated with the National Council of Trade Union (NACTU), among others. Like I once did in the past, many of these individuals adopt the term 'Azania' as a symbolic rejection of apartheid and white supremacy. Their chief motivation emanates from a desire to eliminate any association with the apartheid regime, including the name 'South Africa', which they regard as a legacy of colonialism and racial oppression. Mokgatlhe is a political analyst and consultant.
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
The arrogance of terrorism needs to be condemned
L Oosthuizen | Published 46 minutes ago As sympathy is demanded for the Palestinians by the likes of E Essa and Alaa Nassar, I fail to understand how, when Hamas attacks Israel at a music festival, any sane person would demand such undeserved grace for the people of Gaza. Israel gave the Gazans multiple chances before for the acceptance of democratic autonomy, but they blew it by electing the bloodthirsty Hamas Neanderthals who would act as proxies for the IRGC. It is well documented that since 1979, the Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, always had one agenda in mind: suppression of his people, especially the women, and the destruction of Israel and so-called Zionism. I am sorry, but reading some of the disturbing doctrine written by the Islamic government of Iran, involving young babies and the overall treatment of women, regarding sex-related dos and don'ts, shocked me to my core! It is no wonder that this ideology is causing so much havoc around the globe! This government cannot even honour its people! It is much like the ANC of South Africa! It doesn't hesitate to oppress. It only seeks its ideological advancements. It thrives on the demise of its people. It forges ahead with reckless abandon. You only need to consider the ICJ case brought forward by none other than self-proclaimed Islamist, Naledi Pandor! What we see happening now in the UK, with so many Islamic ministers taking charge, is a full-on assault on Western civilisation. The recent success of Zohran Mamdani in New York sends shivers down the spines of freedom-loving Americans, and so it should! Trump calls Mamdani a '100% Communist lunatic", and I am not surprised! Radical Islam, coupled with ongoing terror attacks on innocent civilians, should be a serious wake-up call to all who love freedom. The longer we sympathise with false pro-Palestine propaganda, the further away we will find ourselves from the truth! Terror acts committed by the Proxies of Iran should be called out for exactly what it is: terrorism! We must stop fooling ourselves by trying to sympathise with a people who have little or nothing to do with South African people! The mere fact that there are rumblings about the ANC having been compensated by either Iran or Qatar for taking Israel to court leaves a very bad taste in our mouths! Not to mention the changing of a street name in Sandton to some terrorist who is only celebrated by those who value acts of terror. When are we going to learn that siding with terror and hiding behind the mask of a cause so falsified by socialist and Marxist tendencies only brings us pain and division? The ANC couldn't care less about Palestinians, but for the sake of its relationship with Iran's terror axis, it will pretend to care for as long as it benefits the status quo. There has always been a golden thread running through and connecting nefarious characters through Marxist, socialist, and communist values. The ANC and Iran are no exception! It doesn't mean you have to blow up a building to be a terrorist, but if you are happy, as a government, to continually oppress and socially divide your citizens according to either a racist or Apartheid-driven agenda, in my opinion, you are a Dystopian, Draconian empire! Be careful of those who accuse you of Apartheid crimes, for too often, the accuser poses as the accused, and the oppressor poses as the oppressed. Is this what we are seeing with the pro-Palestine mobs who reside in South Africa? Do you feel any better displaying your red, black, white and green sticker on the back of your Fortuner, as you speed arrogantly passed several respectful road users? I have news for all those who chant death to the Jews, and disguise it as 'Free Free Palestine'- your time is running out, and the chickens for Justice are coming home to roost! The recent strength shown by Trump and the IDF was a warning to Draconian Radicalised governments that we won't give up the fight against terror just yet! I may not be a Jew, nor am I a Zionist, but I still know the difference between right and difference between propaganda and difference between truth and lies. I refuse to accept this narrative of Israel committing a 'Genocide', as what we saw on October 7th, 2023, was a mini Genocide, funded by Iran and backed up by ANC support! Enough is enough! Let's fix SA before we say anything further about 'Freeing Palestine" L Oosthuizen Durban
IOL News
6 hours ago
- IOL News
There is no link between the name ‘Azania' and the indigenous people of South Africa
We should be asking ourselves where the word 'Azania' originates from, which language, and how it is related to the people of South Africa. There are no cultural, historical, linguistic, or political connections to the name, says the writer. Image: Picture: Henk Kruger/ Independent Newspapers The proposal of constitutional amendment by the African Transformation Movement (ATM) to change the name of South Africa to the 'Republic of Azania' is nonsensical, unnecessary, and irrelevant to the inhabitants of this place. We should be asking ourselves where the word 'Azania' originates from, which language, and how it is related to the people of South Africa. There are no cultural, historical, linguistic, or political connections to the name. It was during my time as a young and vibrant activist within the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) that I was firmly convinced that South Africa should be renamed 'Azania'. I had been persuaded by the existing argument that 'South' was merely a geographical direction and therefore did not have substantive cultural and historical connections befitting a nation's identity. However, I later realised that my comprehension of the term 'Azania' was very limited to its use within Pan Africanist and Black Consciousness discourses. Never mind my strong ideological conviction and commitment, I was unable to intellectually express a clear historical or cultural justification for the adoption of the name, nor could I trace its relevance in juxtaposition to the people, history, and identity of the country. It is important to note that the name 'Azania' has no historical or cultural connection to my people. It was never part of our vocabulary or identity. The term did not exist in our oral traditions or historical records, and my community had never encountered it before modern political movements began to invoke it. It is important to note that the pre-colonial South African society was home to various independent kingdoms and queendoms, each governed by its rulers. I descend from the Bahurutshe, one of the largest sub-groups of the Batswana people, who previously occupied the area now known as the Marico region or Zeerust. 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 ✕ Our ancestors referred to their kingdom as Kaditshwene (a place of baboons) and Tshwenyane (a little baboon), an ancient twin-city settlement that thrived between 1300 to 1884. Like many other indigenous polities, it functioned as a sovereign polity, free from foreign or external domination. There was a dramatic shift in the geopolitical landscape after the Berlin Conference of 1884, where European powers gathered to partition Africa among themselves, which laid the foundation for the modern nation-states we recognise today. As a result, we — descendants of various kingdoms — were forced to adapt to these new political realities and form countries under Western-imposed frameworks. A country known as the Union of South Africa was established in 1910, led and governed by white minority rule. A referendum was held in 1960, where white South Africans decided to leave the Commonwealth, became independent, and referred to themselves as the Republic of South Africa on 31 May 1961. While the name 'South Africa' is descriptive of a geographic location, the name gives a strong cultural, political, and historical connection. It reminds us of different epochs in our history and how we interacted with other countries. The name South Africa is not unique in the world, as other countries have historically adopted names which are geographically descriptive of their land, such as South Sudan, Central African Republic (CAR), North and South Korea, North Macedonia, and East Timor. My discomfort at the term Azania was vindicated after I came across one of the compelling writings of South African freedom fighter and journalist Paul Trewhela, who is now based in the United Kingdom. Through his sharp historical analysis, he provides a well-substantiated account of the origins of the name 'Azania', demonstrating that it was a term imposed by slave traders/masters to demean the Black Africans in some parts of East Africa. Trewhela contends that the name 'Azania' does not bear any link to the indigenous peoples of South Africa and carries connotations or implications of oppression rather than liberation. His esteemed scholarship helped clarify that the name 'Azania' lacks authentic historical, cultural, political, or linguistic connections to South Africa and its people, reinforcing my earlier doubts about its relevance and appropriateness as a national name. 'The name 'Azania' celebrates the centuries of enslavement of black Africans by Islamist Arab imperialism down the east coast of Africa. It is a disgrace for reactionary ideologists to be using this concocted name to replace the name South Africa,' he remarked. This name, 'Azania,' is primarily used by individuals who identify themselves as revolutionaries or radicals within South Africa's academic, political, and social spheres. It is largely preferred by black radicals in academia and by political formations considered to be on the far left, such as the PAC, the Azanian People's Organisation (AZAPO), the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and trade unions affiliated with the National Council of Trade Union (NACTU), among others. Like I once did in the past, many of these individuals adopt the term 'Azania' as a symbolic rejection of apartheid and white supremacy. Their chief motivation emanates from a desire to eliminate any association with the apartheid regime, including the name 'South Africa', which they regard as a legacy of colonialism and racial oppression. Mokgatlhe is a political analyst and consultant.
