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IOL News
15 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
MKP rejects ANC's invitation to join the Government of National Unity
MKP national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela rejects ANC's suggestion that more parties should join the GNU, saying his party would not be part of a structure that involved the DA and President Cyril Ramaphosa. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers Some opposition parties prefer to remain on the opposition bench as they flatly rejected the ANC's suggestion to invite them into the Government of National Unity (GNU). The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) was unwilling to be part of the Cabinet that involved the DA and President Cyril Ramaphosa. However, the MKP said it was willing to hold discussions with the EFF and the ANC, without Ramaphosa's involvement, for the formation of the pro-black government. MKP national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said this in reaction to the ANC's suggestion of adding more parties to the GNU. The ANC, whose spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri is yet to respond to request for comment, announced in a statement released on August 6, that its National Executive Committee's ordinary meeting held between August 1 and 4 resolved to engage with its current GNU partners to broaden participation, 'strengthen the functioning of the GNU, and give full effect to the Statement of Intent'. However, the ANC cautioned that it would not allow opportunistic forces, which it did not name, to manipulate this GNU platform for narrow partisan ends. When asked if the MKP was considering ANC's suggestion, Ndhlela said: 'Do you see us being mad?' 'We cannot join the racists,' he said. He did not think that the ANC would dare to invite the MKP to join the GNU. 'Do you think we would join Steenhuisen and Helen Zille, who have told them (ANC) categorically that they would never be a GNU with MKP and EFF? So, where would they begin to bring us in?' he asked. He said his party was not interested in joining the GNU. While being part of the GNU, the DA has strongly opposed several recently passed policies, such as the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA)'s language and school admission clauses, the National Health Insurance Act, and the Land Expropriation Act. DA leader John Steenhuisen, the Agriculture minister, said this week that he did not believe expansion of the parties in the GNU would take the country forward. Ndhlela said that while the DA was part of the government, it was also playing the opposition role in Parliament and Cabinet. He suggested that predominantly black parties should form the government. 'We need the ANC, without Ramaphosa, the EFF, and MKP to sit and talk because if you look at the policy perspective, we are all aligned in terms of what we want for black people,' said Ndhlela. The MKP placed the condition that it should have an upper hand in the government. 'On top of that, there is no way that the president of the country, if there were to be those kinds of conversations, would not come from the ANC, never, it cannot be. 'Not with the rot that is there. The president of the country must come from the MKP in those discussions, if they were to happen. 'There is no way that the ANC in its current state can lead the country as it has lost public trust,' said Ndhlela. He was emphatic that his party would never join the GNU. 'We cannot have a conversation with the ANC while it is part of the GNU; we cannot have a conversation with the ANC while Ramaphosa is still the president. 'We are willing to sit across the table with them and listen to them. Those are the natural key conditions. Then they will be worthy of an ear,' said Ndhlela. ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said the ANC was trying to neutralise the opposition bench and that there was no significant role that his party would play in the already blotted Cabinet. He said ActionSA first rejected the ANC's invitation into the GNU after the general elections and during the heated debate over Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's attempt to increase VAT. He said he was happy that the ANC had not invited his party to the GNU, as it had already been calling for the trimming of the Cabinet. 'We said to the ANC that as long as they got 70% representation in the GNU, they don't need us. 'We don't want to be neutralised because (by joining the GNU) we will be compromising ourselves as we want to remain a constructive opposition in parliament,' he said. He said the GNU would take away ActionSA's independence. 'They (ANC) want us to shield them in their infighting with the DA. 'Let them continue fighting with the DA and leave us alone as an effective constructive opposition,' said Mashaba. The DA and Freedom Front Plus were opposed to the expansion of the GNU. 'I think it is going to complicate things even further, (as) we already have 10 parties in the GNU,' said Steenhuisen. However, the United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa, the Defence and Military Veterans deputy minister, told the media on Tuesday morning that his party supported the expansion. 'There was no winner in the elections; the people mandated all political parties to find a way to run South Africa, hence the GNU today.
IOL News
08-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
US tariffs threaten South Africa's economic growth and job market
US President Donald Trump's import tariffs will have a severe impact on the number of vehicles that South Africa exports to the US.. Image: Freepik High tariffs imposed by the US on South African exports from August 1 will be a blow that will further de-industrialise South Africa, kill economic growth, and cause further unemployment, Efficient Group chief economist Dawie Roodt said yesterday. Speaking in an online discussion held by the Motor Industry Staff Association of South Africa (MISA) about the US's plans to resume its threat of 30% import tariffs for South African goods, Roodt said the tariffs will result in lower investment into South Africa and will impact manufacturing and agriculture particularly, sectors that are among the most capable of growing job opportunities in the country. He said while South Africa's participation in the US's Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) later this year was not formally over and uncertain - Agoa allows duty-free access to the US market for eligible sub-Saharan countries - the new tariffs effectively meant this prospect was unlikely, as the new tariff structure could not co-exist with the benefits of Agoa. In addition, Agoa had the protection of property ownership rights as a condition of membership, which South Africa could not meet due to its Land Expropriation Act. South Africa was viewed as a medium-income country, and the Act was for less developed economies. 'We need to accept that Agoa is dead,' he said. He said, however, that by appearances, US President Donald Trump's door was always open for further negotiation on the tariffs, but that the US appears to be seeking political concessions from the South African government. These likely included changing its outlook on BEE, on land expropriation, and on Israel and Iran, with much of the government's current views on these matters based on 'political grandstanding,' said Roodt. He said that South African exporters should seek to diversify their markets from the US, and there was growth and potential in China, India, Europe, and Eastern European markets, but there would also now be greater competition in these markets, as many other countries were now also working to diversify their markets from the US. The government had earlier this month sought to allay fears that the tariffs would be imposed, such as on July 1, when Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau said that there was 'still room for engagement' with the US. South Africa is one of 14 countries arbitrarily targeted under this tariff policy. The US is South Africa's second-largest export market after China, with R157 billion worth of goods exported in 2024, mainly precious metals, vehicles, iron and steel, and aluminium. Over 25 000 vehicles were shipped to the US last year. FedEx Sub-Saharan African Operations MD Gregory Saffy said one promising avenue to diversify trade is the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). 'The agreement represents one of the most important levers for driving inclusive growth and unlocking the continent's full trade potential. Of course, this won't happen overnight, but we're optimistic given the early progress being reported,' he said. Since the start of preferential trade under AfCFTA in January 2024, South Africa's exports had steadily increased, reaching some R820 million by March 2025. These included mining equipment, household appliances, plastics, apparel, food items, and electrical machinery. Professor Raymond Parsons of the NWU Business School said: 'South Africa is not without remedies. It remains essential that bilateral negotiations must continue to stabilise and consolidate future US-South Africa investment and trade relations. Collaboration between government and the private sector must continue to accelerate the steady identification of alternative markets, for which South Africa must remain globally competitive,' Parsons said. He said the costs of doing business in South Africa is still too high, and growth-friendly policies must be implemented. 'It becomes even more essential to speedily implement growth-friendly policies that build economic buffers and reduce costs in ways that also enable South Africa to successfully deal with any global setbacks,' he said. The US is the third-largest destination for South African automotive exports, with about R35bn worth of vehicles shipped in 2024, accounting for 6.5% of total vehicle exports in 2024. National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) CEO Mike Mabasa said they were meeting with the motor manufacturers to get their inputs on the new tariff regime. However, in April, Naamsa said the proposed tariff increase will severely impact local manufacturers operating in South Africa, including BMW, Ford, Isuzu, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen, who produce vehicles for global markets, including the US. The US move could have serious implications for jobs and investment in South Africa's automotive sector. 'The proposed tariff costs cannot be absorbed by manufacturers, resulting in additional costs for US consumers and a reduced choice of South African-produced brands,' Naamsa said.
Scotsman
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Readers' Letters: Donald Trump's Act of hostility
President Donald Trump holds up a printed article from "American Thinker" while accusing South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa of state-sanctioned violence against white farmers in South Africa during a press availability in the Oval Office at the White House on May 21 One reader is appalled at Donald Trump's allegations against South Africa. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Donald Trump's false charge of race discrimination by the South African government against white farmers and offering them refuge in the US is an act of hostility against South Africa. Since South Africa took Israel to the International Court of Justice charging it with genocide the US has ramped up its actions against South Africa. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Trump's Presidential Order 'Addressing the Egregious Actions of South Africa', promoted the re-settlement of Afrikaners in the US and stated that South Africa had taken aggressive positions towards the United States including 'accusing Israel of genocide.' The Presidential Order added, 'The United States cannot support the government of South Africa in its undermining United States foreign policy which poses national security threats to our Nation… and our interests.' It concluded 'the United States shall not provide aid or assistance to South Africa.' It could not be made clearer that if you disagree with US support for Israel's actions then you will be punished. In South Africa's colonial and apartheid past, land distribution was grossly unequal on the basis of race. This remains the case. Whites own 70 per cent of the land while being only 7 per cent of the population. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad South Africa in addressing this issue passed the Land Expropriation Act. Land can be expropriated without compensation only in strictly defined circumstances. The United States intervention, making false claims about the Act and what is happening to white farmers, whilst offering fast-tracked refuge to Afrikaners is a disruptive interference in the affairs of a sovereign country. The US actions seem designed to destabilise South Africa and stop its support for the Palestinians. South Africa should be applauded for its humanitarian stance in support of the Palestinians and should also be assisted in its journey to overcome 300 years of colonialism and apartheid. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Brian Filling, Chair, Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) Scotland (Successor organisation of the Anti-Apartheid Movement) For Reform read Trump I quite agree with William Loneskie (letters, 10th June) that terms like 'hate' and 'poison' have no place in any political discussion. But Mr Loneskie, after reviewing Reform UK's manifesto, while denying they are 'far right', suggests that they are simply 'common sense'. Quite possibly, it's he who is in denial. To see Reform UK's policies in action, you have only to look across the Atlantic and view Trump's America. There, you most certainly will find far right policies, which are far from common sense, even down to the doomed DOGE, which Nigel Farage is keen to adopt. For Trump's 'America first', read Farage's 'Britain first', or perhaps more accurately, 'England first' with all that that entails, including isolation from the wider world and zero immigration. For 'Trump's Presidency', read Farage's 'Premiership' and, heaven forbid, quite possibly, dictatorship. That should be cautionary enough. Ian Petrie, Edinburgh Indy fatigue Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad I hope someone in the SNP will tell us when they have pressed the 'independence button' they keep threatening to activate. Otherwise, I think for the vast majority of Scots, including many SNP sympathisers, there will not be an iota of difference to what we have suffered for the last few decades; the button must be stuck in the independence selection. How about a 'Truth Button' instead? Alexander McKay, Edinburgh Workers want more I suppose that we can only expect John Swinney to attempt to take crumbs of comfort from whatever he can in last week's election. However, neither the SNP, nor Labour were exactly impressive. The Conservatives especially were the clear victims of Reform's approaching steamroller. As Reform UK lists a number of policies which are left-wing (eg nationalisation) with fairly right-wing ones, they appeal to the average man and, indeed the average woman in the street. The public is fed up of parties who tax and spend to no visible effect. Both the SNP and Labour typify this. The tyranny of the liberal-lefty/lefty-separatist regimes which have ruled the UK and Scotland for the past three decades represent the yahoos who demonstrate on the streets in such numbers. They do not, however, represent the average adult who has to budget for a mortgage and often for feeding and clothing children, but who want to enjoy the benefit of some of their own hard-earned income. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The failure to understand that people are motivated by a wish to see their children in a better world than they grew up in is the problem in a post-industrial world. When the horizons are covered with Chinese-built wind turbines and the pay-packet is taxed more highly than the rest of the UK, is it any surprise that Scottish voters are sick fed up with a party which takes their money from them and which allows foreigners to vote? When Scots are struggling to pay their bills, is it any surprise that people are livid when illegal economic migrants who are overwhelmingly fit young men who come from perfectly peaceful countries are put up in hotels and fed at our expense? John Fraser, Glasgow Winter gruel The UK rules regarding right to winter fuel allowance are clear i.e. earnings of £35 thousand or less being cut off point. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scottish Government have decided on three categories a) £200 for those on pension credit, knowing that a huge number of pensioners miss out on that benefit due to small works pensions b) £100 those not on pension credit c) those 'wealthy' people who can opt out of their £100. Why does the Scottish Government always have to be different? They know we pay more tax than the rest of the UK but will receive less winter fuel allowance. They also know we are colder longer over the winter than the rest of the UK. Let us hope that once they get the extra Barnet Formula money that they increase the payment rather sidetrack the money for something else. Elizabeth Hands, Armadale Something fishy Recently Keir Starmer sucker-punched our fishermen by gifting EU vessels a 12-year licence to rape and loot UK fishing grounds – as they have done with their own. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Shockingly, when he was questioned about this Starmer responded by claiming that this is a 'win for our fishing industry because of Scottish salmon exports' – a response which is not only contemptuous of fisher folk but reveals his total ignorance of the modus operandi of the fishing industry. Few would describe keeping unhealthy salmon densely packed in cages and feeding them highly processed food, as fishing. Let us be honest, the reason Starmer and crew gets away with this, and with record numbers of migrants channel-crossing, a failed NHS, a failed railway system and a desperate housing shortage etc etc is due to our own negligent burnout – because we let him. Doug Clark, Currie Keep the lights on Recent threats of serious blackouts in late May and lately the blackout in Exeter raises concerns of more impending blackouts and electrical emergencies. All this from the perilous, unstable and un-modernised state of UK's National Grid, unable to cope with intermittent renewable power. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Some might conclude the UK needs either a change in Net Zero renewable energy policy or a change in government, for it is a given that no government can prevail if it cannot keep the lights on. For surely Net Zero renewable energy political fantasies cannot continue unsustainably hiking UK electricity to between four and six times European prices, economically crippling both industries and households. Yet UK electricity demand is expected to double in the short term to service the banks of computers needed for the new artificial intelligence industry and potentially millions of new electric vehicles. Expensive imports of gas and electricity will not solve the economic issues. Yet the UK could build, service and have operational in less than three years reliable British designed gas combined cycle power stations using its UK's own gas resources. All this at a fraction of the cost of nuclear plant. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad So-how long will this government take to smell the coffee? Will it indeed be too late when the Whitehall lights go out and the coffee percolators fail? Elizabeth Marshall, Edinburgh Nuclear target Just how stupid can our government be? In the same week that the 'powers that be' said that expenditure on our armed forces should rise from about 2 per cent to nearer 5 per cent, they decide to spend £14.2 billion on a new Sizewell C power station. While no-one knows when or why some future war will start, we can currently see Russia attempting to systematically destroy Ukraine's power stations. It will only take one guided missile to knock out this proposed new UK power station and rob several million people of power for a very long time! Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Why not spend that money on building many smaller and more localised power stations? One mammoth power station will just be 'crying out' to be destroyed in any future conflict. Archibald A. Lawrie, Kingskettle, Fife Write to The Scotsman
IOL News
27-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
SA tourism industry pushes back on safety amidst crime narrative from Trump admin
President Cyril Ramaphosa meeting US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington D.C. for a working visit provided an opportunity for the two leaders to deliberate on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest, including trade and investment. Image: GCIS The South African tourism industry has come into defense of the country's safety and hospitality levels amidst an ongoing narrative about crime in Africa's most-developed economy. This comes as a group of 59 Afrikaners recently migrated to the United States after taking up the offer of a refugee status as the US government falsely believes there is an ongoing 'genocide' against them in South Africa. Recent headlines sparked by a widely publicised exchange between US President Donald Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa have reignited international focus on crime in South Africa. During the meeting, Trump repeatedly claimed that genocide against white farmers is taking place in South Africa, an allegation denied by Ramaphosa. 'We have many people that feel they're being persecuted, and they're coming to the United States,' said Trump. 'People are fleeing South Africa for their own safety. Their land is being confiscated, and in many cases, they're being killed.' The latest crime statistics in South Africa show that nearly 10 000 people were murdered between October and December 2024. Of these, a dozen were killed in farm attacks and of the 12, one was a farmer, while five were farm dwellers and four were employees, who are likely to have been black. The Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (Satsa) on Thursday said much of the coverage of these issues has leaned toward sensationalism, lacking the nuance needed to understand the real experience of travellers to the country. Satsa CEO David Frost said while crime was a concern and continued to be addressed by government and civil society, incidents involving international visitors remained extremely rare. 'South Africa isn't perfect. Like every country, we face challenges. But what we don't have is a crisis that justifies global panic or distorted narratives,' Frost said. 'What we do have is millions of tourists arriving safely every year, and leaving with stories that have nothing to do with fear and everything to do with awe. 'We don't pretend crime doesn't exist. But context matters. The suggestion that tourists are at significant risk is dangerous misinformation that serves political agendas rather than public interest.' South Africa has been in the crosshairs with the Trump administration since it passed the Land Expropriation Act, while issues of undermining the US foreign policy have been resurfaced by the country taking Israel to the International Court of Justice over the genocide in Palestine. Ramaphosa did acknowledge that there was "criminality in our country... people who do get killed through criminal activity are not only white people, the majority of them are black people". He said that he hoped Trump would listen to the voices of South Africans on this issue of the perceived genocide against white Afrikaners. Ramaphosa pointed out the white members of his delegation, including retired golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, and South Africa's richest man, Johann Rupert.
eNCA
21-05-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
SA delegation remains calm in 'genocide ambush' by Trump
JOHANNESBURG - US President Donald Trump presented what he believed was 'proof' of a genocide in South Africa. These included videos and printed articles that were presented to the South African delegation in Washington on Wednesday. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and members present stood firm, denying all claims that South Africans were targets of a genocide. Trump says that he stands against all genocide around the world; however, when Afrikaners seek refuge, he is concerned. Fringe groups in South Africa, like Afriforum, have long alleged that white farmers were being targeted and killed. They have also alleged that laws like the Land Expropriation Act and the BELA Act are laws directed at destroying them. The South African government has denied these allegations, saying there is no evidence. Afriforum has, after Trump met with the South African delegation, denied that they supplied footage of the documentary played during the meeting. Afriforum's Kallie Kriel said they can neither confirm nor deny that they compiled the particular documentary shown during the meeting. South African businessman Johann Rupert says that crime affects everyone. With crime being rampant in the Cape Flats in the Western Cape. Golfing legend Ernie Els says what South Africa needs is investment to deal with the country's social ills. The US administration gave 50 Afrikaners refugee status. The group accepted Trump's invitation after he signed an executive order offering Afrikaners asylum in the country.
