Latest news with #Bhengu-Motsiri
IOL News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
ANC condemns US refugee status for Afrikaners, calls claims baseless
No Afrikaner refugees in South Africa, asserts ANC amid US controversy Image: IOL/Independent Newspapers The African National Congress (ANC) has issued a strong statement condemning the United States government's recent decision to grant refugee status to 49 individuals self-identifying as Afrikaners. The party categorically rejects the notion that Afrikaner refugees are fleeing South Africa, emphasising that such claims are baseless and serve to undermine the country's democracy. In a statement released on Tuesday by Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, ANC National Spokesperson, the party declared that there are no Afrikaner refugees in South Africa. 'No section of our society is hounded, persecuted, or subject to ethnic victimisation. These claims are a fabrication and a cowardly political construct designed to delegitimise our democracy and insult the sacrifices made by generations who fought for freedom.' The ANC's stance comes amid ongoing debates surrounding US immigration policies and the rise of misinformation campaigns. The party said that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, a foundational document in South Africa's struggle for democracy, which affirms that 'South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white.' The ANC reaffirmed that this principle is enshrined in the Constitution, which guarantees equality, dignity, and non-racialism. Bhengu-Motsiri further criticised what she describes as attempts by certain foreign actors to exploit refugee protections to shield right-wing, anti-transformation elements. 'The instigators of this falsehood seek not safety, but impunity from transformation. They flee not from persecution, but from justice, equality, and accountability for historic privilege,' Bhengu-Motsiri stated. US Policy and Misinformation Campaigns The US government's decision to recognise certain individuals as refugees has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that it misrepresents the realities faced by South Africans. Some US lawmakers have proposed sanctions against ANC leaders, alleging they are undermining democratic processes. Adding to the complexity, reports suggest that influential figures, including Elon Musk—who has been a significant financial backer of former President Donald Trump—have played a role in spreading misinformation about South Africa. Musk, who recently failed to have Starlink satellite services operational in South Africa, has reportedly amplified narratives suggesting widespread violence and genocide, which are not supported by credible data. A Call for Unity and Truth The ANC called on all South Africans and the international community to stand united in defending the truth, constitutionalism, and national sovereignty. 'Ours is not a broken or failing state,' the party asserted, 'but a people's democracy progressing against the tides of distortion and divisive narratives.' ANC emphasised the importance of safeguarding its democratic institutions and resisting efforts to distort its history or undermine its sovereignty. The party reaffirmed its commitment to the principles of equality and justice, standing firm against any attempts to divide the nation along racial or political lines. [email protected],za IOL Politics
IOL News
08-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
ANC welcomes Pretoria Court ruling dismissing DA's appeal on cadre deployment
DA's legal bid to overturn the ANC's cadre deployment policy has failed again, with the Pretoria High Court ruling that the opposition party's arguments had no reasonable prospects of success. ANC has welcomed the Pretoria High Court's decision to dismiss the DA's bid to appeal a ruling on its cadre deployment policy, calling it a blow to the DA's 'obsession with pursuing narrow-minded political games at the expense of genuine democratic progress.' 'The African National Congress welcomes the judgment of the High Court in Pretoria, which dismissed with clarity and conviction the Democratic Alliance's application for leave to appeal a ruling on the ANC's cadre deployment policy,' ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said. She said the court once again found the DA's case had no reasonable prospects of success, failed to identify any unconstitutional elements in the policy, and relied on speculative, unproven allegations. 'This judgment exposes the DA's ongoing abuse of the judiciary to score cheap political points instead of engaging in serious policy debates or offering real solutions to the challenges facing South Africans,' Bhengu-Motsiri said. The High Court in Pretoria dismissed the DA's application for leave to appeal an earlier judgment that rejected the party's request to declare the ANC's cadre deployment policy unconstitutional. The court ruled the DA's application lacked reasonable prospects of success, a key criterion for granting leave to appeal. Earlier this year, the DA argued before the court that the policy undermines service delivery. However, the High Court found the party failed to meet the test for appeal, including whether the appeal had a reasonable prospect of success and whether there were compelling reasons to hear it. 'For all the reasons set out in this ruling, the application for leave to appeal must fail,' said Deputy Judge President Aubrey Phago Ledwaba. 'The application for leave to appeal is dismissed,' he said. Ledwaba ordered the DA to pay the respondents' legal costs, including the costs of five counsel representing the first to third respondents. The court found the DA had failed to make a valid constitutional argument, and it did not identify specific unconstitutional aspects of the cadre deployment policy. Instead, the party challenged the policy as a whole, asserting it did not need to specify particular provisions that conflicted with the Constitution. The court also reportedly rejected the DA's submitted evidence of alleged corruption linked to the policy, referring to it as 'purported' and insufficient. Bhengu-Motsiri said the DA's consistent opposition to redress and transformation efforts is more concerning. 'While claiming to be 'for the people,' the DA's every legal challenge and policy position is aimed at defending the interests of the privileged few,' she said. She described the court case as a deliberate attack on transformative measures, cloaked in legal arguments but driven by ideological resistance to change. 'The DA cannot claim to champion democracy and equality while undermining every attempt at meaningful transformation. Their actions continue to contradict their words,' Bhengu-Motsiri said. She added that South Africans deserve leadership that prioritises equity, redress and inclusive governance, not 'political theatre dressed up as constitutional concern.' 'The ANC will continue to champion the interests of the majority, the working class, the poor, and the historically excluded, in alignment with the core ideals of the ANC and our manifesto commitments,' she said IOL Politics
