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TimesLIVE
22-05-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Trump's lies rile SA: was Ramaphosa's rebuttal enough?
Political analyst Khaya Sithole sees progress after the meeting but noticed the gaps, saying, 'The response to the white genocide claims was the difficult part because it is not anchored on facts, but what was important about the conversation is that until now we had no idea what formed the basis for Trump's statements and utterances. There were speculations,' he said. 'What was really missing was a very clear denunciation of the genocide conversations by those that Trump takes more seriously than others; those would have been the golfers, John Steenhuisen and, as it turned out, Johann Rupert, but progress was made.' Sanusha Naidu, from the Institute for Global Dialogue, praises Ramaphosa's strategic restraint. 'I think they were as effective as they could be given the context in which these claims were being made and the mindset of the person making the claims. Obviously, what was very difficult to do, was try to get the US president to accept that he could be wrong and that is not what anybody could achieve ... once President Trump is set on an idea and view, he doesn't back down,' she said. 'The SA Presidency, the delegation in particular, the president, handled it very well. He handled it with maturity, it was measured, it was understood what they were going to do.' Business tycoon Rupert was part of the delegation. He told Trump crime in South Africa happened across the board — everyone is affected. 'It was a good playbook, the playbook was very critical because Ramaphosa knew you were never going to convince him [Trump] otherwise ... but you now created a doubt in his mind. President Ramaphosa knows how to play this game; it's the long waiting game and he can frustrate you because you're not getting a reaction out of him,' said Naidu. Human rights lawyer Yasmin Sooka is less optimistic. 'It was quite a shock that we needed three white men to save us, none of whom rebutted the claims of persecution and genocide and it reminded me so much of the late president [FW] De Klerk who never said apartheid was a crime against humanity,' she said. Sooka warns of global repercussions: 'I think we're being set up. Just as much as we've brought a case in the ICJ on genocide, don't be surprised if the American government doesn't file a case with the Israelis accusing South Africa of persecution, which is a crime against humanity, and genocide, because this is the narrative in the face of disinformation and falsehoods.' Sooka believes only Ramaphosa and Cosatu's Zingiswa Losi 'really tried hard to rebut the misinformation'. She cautioned about Trump's focus on EFF leader Julius Malema: 'They might find that the US uses global Magnitsky sanctions or 703C designations, which will mean travel bans for them and their families, so I am not sure if we've turned the tide.' Sooka adds: 'States have an obligation if there is a basis for genocide and a crime against humanity, and so Trump's question to the president is quite loaded when he asks him what he is doing about Malema. It then becomes South Africa's failure to act when it had knowledge of the so-called genocide.'
Eyewitness News
21-05-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Mantashe says deal on SA minerals unlikely to be on the table as Ramaphosa meets Trump
Nokukhanya Mntambo 21 May 2025 | 6:45 Gwede Mantashe Cyril Ramaphosa Donald Trump Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe. Picture: @GovernmentZA/X JOHANNESBURG - Minerals and Petroleum Resources Minister, Gwede Mantashe, said a deal on the country's critical minerals is unlikely to be on the table at the Oval Office when President Cyril Ramaphosa meets with his United States (US) counterpart, Donald Trump. Mantashe, who is also the acting president in Ramaphosa's absence, briefed the media on the Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy in Cape Town on Tuesday. This is part of what the government says is a broader tactic to tighten the policy framework for the critical minerals sector and streamline regulations. Africa is said to hold 30% of the world's critical mineral reserves, such as manganese, graphite, nickel, lithium and copper. The US relies on South African metals and minerals that are essential for its economy and national security, making metals and minerals the biggest South African exports to the US. According to the Institute for Global Dialogue, in 2021, platinum group metals were almost half of South Africa's exports to the US, and nearly 100% of the US's global chromium supply. When Trump slapped the world with higher import tariffs, he put gold, platinum group metals, copper, and zinc on a list of exemptions. Some economists said SA's minerals could be the Trump card the country needs at the negotiating table when diplomats talk trade and race policies in Washington. But Mantashe said otherwise. 'I would imagine that the US would try to put the issue of minerals on the table, but I doubt if the South African delegation will commit South Africa on its minerals. They may have issues, but that will have to come back for a discussion in the country. 'Any decision on that front will have to involve us, it will have to involve the Mineral Council, labour, and then we can make proposals. But our emphasis remains, our critical minerals must be enriched close to the place of production and that delegation in the US understands that fully,' added Mantashe. That aside, there are also semantics involved with calls for a new definition on critical minerals - one that differentiates between what is genuinely vital to a country, and what is just something of importance. ALSO READ:
IOL News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
‘Genocide' lies and white victimhood: How far-right forces are undermining South Africa
Misinformation campaigns threaten South Africa's democracy and sovereignty Image: Saul Loeb Experts have warned that a concerted effort, potentially driven by foreign actors and aligned with domestic far-right groups, is fuelling misinformation campaigns, including false genocide claims against the white minority in South Africa. Independent Political analysts said that the country is currently grappling with a complex web of internal and external forces aiming to destabilise its democratic progress. They argued that these efforts threaten South Africa's sovereignty, damage diplomatic relations—particularly with the United States—and threaten the nation's hard-won social cohesion. Experts asserted that since South Africa publicly took a stand against human rights violations committed by Israel and voiced support for Palestinian rights, it has become the target of a coordinated misinformation campaign. This campaign seeks to distort South Africa's foreign policy, casting it as a rogue state aligned with 'evil' nations such as Iran and China, and accusing it of domestic racism and expropriation policies. Prominent South African-born billionaires, some with ties to President Donald Trump's circles, are believed to be involved in orchestrating smear campaigns. These narratives have gained traction in the US, leading to diplomatic repercussions such as the US government's decision to boycott South Africa's role as G20 chair in 2025—a move seen by analysts as a form of cold sanctioning linked to South Africa's foreign policy stance. Dr Oscar Van Heerden, a University of Johannesburg political analyst, suggested that these narratives are part of a broader effort to craft a negative image of South Africa, portraying it as a nation no longer embodying Nelson Mandela's values. 'It's about creating a narrative that South Africa is a failed state, riddled with corruption and crime, to justify external and internal interventions,' he said. The Rise of White Nationalist Ideology in the US Ashrad Patel, a Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD), linked these developments to the ideological currents within the current U.S. political landscape, particularly the so-called 'Project 2025' initiative related to the 'Make America Great Again' movement. 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 'This project, centered on white nationalist identity and anxieties over demographic change, echoes old apartheid-era narratives and has been embraced by certain South African opposition groups, including the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the far-right Freedom Front Plus (FF+),' Patel explained. 'The narrative of white victimhood and minority rights in South Africa is being exploited to rally support for these groups in the U.S., framing South Africa's policies, like land reform and affirmative action, as 'anti-white' and 'anti-Constitutional'. 'These narratives are then used to justify lobbying efforts and influence US policy, including the potential undermining of trade agreements like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).' Domestic and External Power Struggles Patel argued that the influence of South Africa's domestic political landscape is significant. 'The inclusion of the DA and FF+ in the government has provided a platform for these narratives, which are framed as protecting minority rights but are often rooted in racialised perceptions. 'The lobbying efforts by Afriforum, a prominent far-right organisation, and other interest groups have intensified within South Africa and the United States." Meanwhile, the US claims regarding the alleged genocide against white farmers have become a flashpoint. Critics argue that this narrative is weaponised to justify external pressure and distract from domestic challenges like high inequality. Allegations of Covert Operations and Diplomatic Interference Independent political analyst Joe Mhlanga raised concerns about covert operations to tarnish South Africa's image. 'It's alarming that private NGOs, funded by foreign interests, are engaging directly with US government officials on diplomatic issues concerning South Africa,' he said 'This blurs the lines of sovereignty and suggests a form of covert interference aimed at regime change." The South African government has responded by publicly criticising these efforts. Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced that the State Security Agency is actively gathering intelligence on individuals and organisations spreading misinformation. She condemned the US administration's acceptance of what she called 'Afrikaner Refugees'—a term used by groups like Afriforum to describe white South Africans claiming refugee status—arguing that there is no genocide in South Africa and that these claims are unfounded. Implications for South Africa's Democracy Van Heerden said these developments threaten decades of diplomatic progress and social cohesion. 'The narrative of a 'failed South Africa' is being weaponised to justify external sanctions, internal destabilisation, and the rollback of democratic reforms. 'The convergence of domestic far-right ideology, foreign interference, and misinformation campaigns creates a 'perfect storm' that could undermine the nation's stability." In an effort to mend relations, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced earlier this month that he will meet Trump in the US next week. IOL Politics
Epoch Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
South Africa's Status Strengthened by Diplomacy Amid Ukraine War, US Tariffs: Analysts
News Analysis JOHANNESBURG—South African President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke with the leaders of the United States, Russia, and Ukraine in the past week, talks that analysts said could improve strained relations between Africa's biggest economy and the world's largest market, and potentially mark a turning point in the war in Ukraine. Equally, they said, some of Ramaphosa's comments would not be received favorably by Russian President Vladimir Putin and could weaken what one South African minister previously After Ramaphosa met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Pretoria on Thursday, South African government officials told The Epoch Times that the pair had agreed to forge stronger trade relations, saying that this was especially important in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's imposition of a 31 percent tariff on South African goods exported to the United States. Sanusha Naidoo, an international relations analyst at the Institute for Global Dialogue in Johannesburg, told The Epoch Times that a key takeaway from the Ramaphosa-Zelenskyy engagement was the South African leader's agreement that a potential cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine must be unconditional. 'This position is a significant development, because it puts South Africa on the wrong side, if you will, of both Trump and Putin. It actually positions the South African government well to be a credible mediator in the war in Ukraine,' she said. Related Stories 4/17/2025 4/14/2025 'South Africa's experience in negotiating an end to apartheid between two sides that at first wouldn't budge could prove invaluable here, and the Ukrainians acknowledge this as does Putin, who has said quite often that he admires Ramaphosa's role in being top negotiator with the former apartheid government in the early 1990s.' The Trump administration has been putting pressure on both Kyiv and Moscow to reach a peace agreement aimed at ending Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II. 'Trump's suggestion that Ukraine is fortunate that Putin hasn't seized the whole country yet and that Ukraine should basically let him keep the territory gained so far by Russian forces, and that's unacceptable to Zelenskyy,' Helmoed Heitman, a South African military historian and conflict analyst, told The Epoch Times. 'Judging from what emerged in Pretoria yesterday [Thursday], the Ukrainian government has a certain level of trust in Ramaphosa, despite the ANC's [African National Congress] fondness for Moscow.' The ANC, which Ramaphosa leads, is the majority party in South Africa's coalition government and is in charge of foreign policy directions. Under the ANC, South Africa refused to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations, abstaining from voting. The ANC has historic ties to Russia, with many of its leaders receiving military training and education from the former Soviet Union from the 1950s to the early 1990s when they were fighting to overthrow apartheid in South Africa. Trump has repeatedly criticized Pretoria for being closely aligned with Washington's geopolitical foes, including Russia, China, and Iran, and for The U.S. president signed an 'The government of South Africa blatantly discriminates against ethnic minority descendants of settler groups,' the White House 'As long as South Africa continues to support bad actors on the world stage and allows violent attacks on innocent disfavored minority farmers, the United States will stop aid and assistance to the country.' Speaking to reporters after meeting Zelenskyy, Ramaphosa revealed that Trump had called him on Wednesday to discuss the war in Ukraine. He said that they had agreed to meet at a later stage to discuss the current poor relations between their governments. 'It seems to be a step back from Trump's previously intransigent position. Trump suggested in previous executive orders and comments that he'd only change tack on South Africa if the Ramaphosa government makes policy changes, like stopping black economic empowerment and affirmative action,' Naidoo said. "There've been no policy changes and Pretoria says it doesn't intend to make any changes, but here Trump is talking to Ramaphosa.' South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (R) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of a meeting with African leaders at the Constantine (Konstantinovsky) Palace in Strelna, outside Saint Petersburg on June 19, 2023. Ramil Sitdikov/RIA Novosti/AFP via Getty Images Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, told The Epoch Times that Pretoria agreed to try to track down 400 children whom Zelenskyy alleges were abducted in Ukraine by Russian troops. Moscow previously denied the allegations. Magwenya did not comment on the methods his government intends to use to achieve this. John Steenhuisen, leader of South Africa's second-largest party in the unity government, the Democratic Alliance, said attempts to look into the alleged abductions will likely involve 'tense talks with Moscow and Kremlin officials.' He told The Epoch Times it's a great sign that Ramaphosa and the ANC agreed to do this because up until now they haven't been willing to take any step that could be seen as alienating and angering Putin. 'I hope the ANC follows through seriously on this pledge,' Steenhuisen said. 'If it does, I don't think Putin will welcome it as he'll see it as interference in Russia's domestic affairs, but I hope the ANC sticks to its guns and hasn't made an empty promise.' Magwenya said his government was also considering purchasing Ukrainian-manufactured drones. 'They have proven to have excellent capabilities, and it's possible we will use them to monitor our borders and in our wildlife reserves to counter poachers,' he said. Ramaphosa also mentioned the possibility of nuclear energy cooperation with Kyiv and joint fertilizer production, as part of South Africa's efforts to diversify trade in the wake of Trump's tariffs and other economic developments. Steenhuisen, who's also South Africa's agriculture minister, said Ukraine had shown immense interest in importing citrus fruit from South Africa. South Africa currently exports citrus fruit to the United States duty-free under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), but U.S. Congress is expected to end the deal when it comes up for renewal in September. '[Ukraine] might take a lot of meat as well from us, so that's positive, and we'll continue importing grain from them, especially wheat, when needed,' Steenhuisen said. Magwenya said an improved trade relationship with Kyiv is part of South Africa's efforts to 'diversify in terms of economic partners' as a direct result of the U.S. tariffs.
