US lists FOUR demands of South Africa, including condemnation of 'Kill the Boer'
The United States government has outlined a set of preconditions that it wants met before fully normalising bilateral relations with South Africa.
These demands were communicated to a visiting delegation of Afrikaner leaders during a high-level meeting with senior White House officials.
The delegation, made up of Freedom Front Plus leader Dr Corné Mulder, Southern African Agri Initiative chairman Dr Theo de Jager, and National Employers' Association of South Africa CEO Gerhard Papenfus, met with representatives from the Office of the US Vice President, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council.
During the meeting, US officials emphasised that improving relations will depend on South Africa addressing four key issues :
The US wants the South African government to officially classify farm attacks as a priority crime, on par with crimes like rhino poaching and cash-in-transit heists.
They said that each incident should be handled by elite investigative units such as the Hawks, and warned that the current lack of urgency sends the wrong message about rural safety and human rights.
American officials called for a clear, public condemnation by the ANC of the chant 'Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer,' which they described as inciting violence, regardless of whether it is expressed in song or speech.
The US stressed the importance of promoting inclusive rhetoric to foster social cohesion.
The US reaffirmed its stance that land expropriation must include fair market compensation and follow full legal processes.
Officials noted concern about property rights and investor confidence, saying that land reform must be conducted in a transparent, lawful, and non-discriminatory manner.
Another demand is that US companies be exempt from Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policies that impose race-based requirements.
According to the officials, BEE regulations function as non-tariff trade barriers and should not be imposed on American entities doing business in South Africa.
Following the meeting, the Afrikaner delegation expressed their support for improved US-South Africa relations and committed to conveying the US administration's expectations to both the South African public and government.
They said that these preconditions had been raised with South African authorities multiple times before but had not yet been adequately addressed. Context and implications
This development comes at a sensitive time for South Africa's foreign relations, particularly in light of ongoing criticism regarding rural safety, land reform, and the country's affirmative action policies.
The White House's strong messaging suggests that unless these concerns are resolved, bilateral cooperation – especially in trade, investment, and diplomatic areas – may remain strained.
Analysts suggest this may also affect South Africa's standing in US-Africa trade programmes and its broader geopolitical positioning, particularly as the global focus shifts toward more rights-based and investor-friendly governance models.
The South African government is expected to respond to these concerns in the coming weeks.
Whether it engages with these demands could determine the future strength of US-South African ties – and how both countries navigate mutual economic and political interests going forward.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Steenhuisen stuns Mzansi with DA's decision on GNU
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen says the party will remain in the Government of National Unity (GNU) despite the axing of Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Andrew Whitfield. However, the DA's Federal Executive has resolved to withdraw from the National Dialogue with immediate effect. In a media briefing, Steenhuisen accused the African National Congress (ANC) of displaying double standards and abusing its power. He warned that the DA's withdrawal from the GNU would have disastrous consequences for the country. Steenhuisen stated that DA members of the executive have remained focused on delivering for South Africans. However, he slammed Ramaphosa for not doing the same. 'Instead of upholding the wishes of the people by working in a respectful and collaborative manner with all partners in the GNU, the ANC has repeatedly undermined these principles. Time and again, it has slapped away the hand of substantive cooperation and co-creation in favour of arrogant and narrow political self-interest,' said Steenhuisen. Steenhuisen also criticised Ramaphosa for ignoring a 48-hour ultimatum issued by the DA following Whitfield's dismissal, calling on him to act against corruption within the ANC. 'If the ANC does not urgently change the way it engages with its coalition partners so that we can fight corruption and start growing the economy, then they imperil the future of the country and its people,' he warned. He emphasised that the DA has acted in the best interests of South Africa since the formation of the GNU, and called on Ramaphosa and the ANC to do the same. Many South Africans took to social media to express their disappointment with the DA's announcement. On X, several users shared that they had expected the party to withdraw entirely from the GNU. Others also questioned the DA's credibility and whether its actions matched its rhetoric. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE DA'S DECISION TO REMAIN IN THE GNU? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Ramaphosa and Trump to discuss trade relations at G7 Summit
Mashudu Sadike | Published 2 weeks ago President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to meet with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Canada this weekend. The meeting will focus on key issues, including the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and US-SA tariffs. Ramaphosa's meeting with Trump comes after South Africa submitted a revised framework proposal to the US, aiming to expand trade and investment relations between the two countries. The US imposed tariffs on South African imports in April, with a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs of 30% against South African exports. The tariffs were part of a broader set of 'liberation day' tariffs imposed by Trump on all US trading partners. However, they were later reduced to a base rate of 10%, with the expectation that countries would use the 90 days to propose solutions addressing the US's trade deficit concerns. Ramaphosa's meeting with Trump will be his second in about three weeks, following their tense encounter at the White House last month. During their previous meeting, Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of the US's role in the G20 Summit and invited Trump to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg later this year. Trump agreed to attend, and Ramaphosa sees this as a positive development for bilateral relations. According to sources close to Ramaphosa, the meeting agenda will include discussions on AGOA, providing duty-free access to the US market for some African products. The agreement is set to expire in September, and South Africa is eager to see it renewed. Ramaphosa will also raise concerns about US-SA tariffs, urging the US not to increase them beyond the current 10% if negotiations on a new trade framework are not concluded by July 9. The sources further said the meeting between Ramaphosa and Trump was significant, given the current state of US-SA trade relations. 'The business sector has expressed concerns about the rise of tariffs, and Ramaphosa is under pressure to come up with answers. A successful meeting could help to ease tensions and pave the way for improved trade relations between the two countries,' the source added. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya did not respond to questions as to what to expect at the upcoming meeting. However, Ramaphosa, while speaking to journalists on Tuesday after he announced the date for the National Dialogue on various issues affecting the country, confirmed that he would be meeting Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Ramaphosa said he was invited by Carney, who holds the presidency of the G7, and would also use the opportunity to talk about the G20 Summit to be hosted by South Africa in November, where Trump will take over the presidency. 'We're going to use it as a platform to begin to consolidate what we want to achieve in November when the leaders' summit takes place here (in Johannesburg),' he said. Last month, Ramaphosa and his delegation included Minister of Trade and Industry Parks Tau, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, and International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola. His goals for that meeting included resetting US-SA relations and beginning serious engagement with the US on trade and investment. He emphasised that South Africa did not 'go kowtowing' to the White House but rather took the initiative to engage with the US. 'For us, it's important for us as a nation to reposition ourselves in the very turbulent geopolitical architecture or situation that we have,' Ramaphosa said at the time. Cape Times
The Citizen
10 hours ago
- The Citizen
SA not ready for fallout if Israel-Iran ceasefire fails, warns UJ professor
As the ceasefire between Iran and Israel holds, the world watches with bated breath to see what will happen next between the two regional powers. To gain insight into the situation, Caxton Local Media spoke to Dr Suzy Graham, professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Johannesburg. Discussing the ceasefire, Graham explained that although it is still early days, the truce holds real potential, though it remains inherently fragile. 'Its longevity hinges on disciplined diplomacy, credible inspections, and political will from all actors. If any of these break down, especially due to hardliners or indirect aggression via proxies, the truce could unravel quickly,' she said. For now, however, the signs are cautiously optimistic. A ceasefire on edge: What's holding it together? Graham believes the ceasefire was primarily driven by a rapid cycle of escalation and daring diplomacy aimed at avoiding further catastrophic conflict. Although the ceasefire appears to be working, she warned that initial breaches from either side could lead to its deterioration. She described the thought of a third world war as unthinkable. 'Despite social media speculation, the probability of a full-scale World War III remains low, but not zero,' Graham said. South Africa's position: Legal, vocal, and diplomatic Speaking about South Africa's stance on the Israel-Iran conflict and how it aligns with the country's broader foreign policy, Graham said South Africa will almost always call for dialogue in any conflict situation. 'The South African government has been vocal in strongly condemning the recent military strikes on Iran, describing the attacks as violations of international law. It has urged all parties, Iran, Israel, and the USA, to engage in UN-led dialogue, emphasising diplomacy, restraint, and nuclear inspection,' she explained. Regarding the potential impact on South Africa if the conflict reignites and becomes a wider regional crisis, Graham said the country would likely continue championing international law, human rights, and nuclear non-proliferation. She noted that South Africa could strengthen its moral leadership among Global South and Muslim-majority countries. 'At the same time, the country could face intense backlash from Israel and Western allies, particularly the USA, Germany, and the UK, especially if Pretoria doubles down on its International Court of Justice genocide case or calls for sanctions. 'South Africa could see reduced goodwill from Western investors or governments, especially if tensions rise over its international legal campaigns or alignment with Iran.' 'In the immediate term, South Africa would likely call for a ceasefire, condemn aggression, and activate international and legal channels. In the short term, it might push for UN and BRICS statements and engage the African Union and Global South partners. 'In the mid-term, it would need to manage economic fallout, reinforce public diplomacy, and maintain BRICS plus solidarity. In the longer term, South Africa could use the crisis to push for UN Security Council reform, nuclear disarmament, and multipolar global governance.' Graham emphasised that if South Africa is drawn into the conflict, its role would be principled, vocal, and legalistic, not military. 'It may be drawn in politically, but not militarily,' she said. 'The country's focus would remain on shaping the normative global order, not engaging in hard power projection.' What escalation could mean for South Africa Although South Africa would not be militarily involved, Graham said a wider Middle East conflict would hit its economy hard, particularly through rising fuel prices, increased trade costs, and inflation. 'An escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict could seriously disrupt global oil flows, and South Africa, as an energy-importing nation, would feel the effects quickly and deeply. 'The country's inflation rate, currency, fiscal stability, and household livelihoods would all come under pressure.' When asked if South Africa is prepared for possible knock-on effects of war, such as cyberattacks or disruptions in trade, Graham said the country is not fully ready for the complex and interconnected consequences of a major regional war involving Iran and Israel. 'While it has some institutional frameworks and economic policy tools, South Africa lacks a coordinated national resilience strategy, particularly for cyber threats and maritime trade disruptions. 'A greater focus on strategic planning, inter-agency coordination, and public-private resilience building is urgently needed.' Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
