Latest news with #RonnyJackson
IOL News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Major development: Bill to review South Africa relations and impose sanctions on leaders passed by US House Committee
A US House Committee has passed a bill aimed at reassessing the United States' bilateral relationship with South Africa. Image: Armand Hough /Independent Newspapers A bill which seeks to reevaluate the bilateral relationship between the US and South Africa and identify government leaders who should be subject to sanctions was passed by a US House Committee on Foreign Affairs this week. The US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025 was introduced in April by Ronny Jackson, a congressman from Texas. The bill, to become a law, will need to be approved by the House and Senate before being signed by President Donald Trump. According to a report by IOL earlier this year, the bill mandates a comprehensive review to identify South African government officials and leaders of the African National Congress (ANC) who may be subject to sanctions for their alleged support of American adversaries such as China, Russia, and Iran. Commenting on X about the committee's approval of the bill, Jackson said: 'South Africa made its choice when they abandoned America and our allies and sided with communists and terrorists. Today, my bill to fully review America's relationship with South Africa and give President Trump the tools necessary to hold their corrupt government accountable passed through committee. The days of allowing our so-called 'allies' to walk all over us are over!' AfriForum said in a statement that the step was a "welcome development" in the interests of the country's citizens. It said the bill will now be debated and amended in the House of Representatives before a vote is held on it. The House of Representatives will then submit the approved bill to the Senate for final consideration. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ 'This development comes amid a deepening diplomatic crisis between the US and South African governments. Last week it was reported that the US government has denied Mcebisi Jonas, 'South Africa's special envoy to the US, a diplomatic visa and rejected his credentials. The revelation confirmed that South Africa has effectively been without diplomatic representation in Washington for more than three months, amid one of the country's most serious diplomatic crises since 1994.' Ernst van Zyl, head of public relations at AfriForum, said ordinary citizens should not be punished for the extremism and corruption of politicians. 'AfriForum has never advocated for sanctions that target South Africa as a whole. Therefore, the introduction of targeted sanctions against these politicians will be a welcome development,' Van Zyl said. THE MERCURY
Reuters
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
US lawmakers advance bill that could sanction South Africa over its foreign policy
JOHANNESBURG, July 23 (Reuters) - United States lawmakers have voted to advance a bill that proposes reviewing the U.S. relationship with South Africa due to objections over its foreign policy and potentially imposing sanctions on South African officials. The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee voted 34-16 on Tuesday to send the "U.S.-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act" to the full House of Representatives, where it could be subject to a vote, according to a video of the proceedings. The measure would need to pass both the House and the Senate before it could be signed into law. Many bills at this stage never go to a vote. However, the committee's approval took the bill a step further and underscored tensions between Washington and Pretoria as South Africa seeks to fend off a looming 30% U.S. tariff and counter false claims of white "genocide" made by President Donald Trump. South Africa's foreign ministry and a spokesperson for President Cyril Ramaphosa declined to comment. The bill was introduced in April by Ronny Jackson, a Republican congressman from Texas who cheered the move on X, writing: "South Africa made its choice when they abandoned America and our allies and sided with communists and terrorists". The bill accuses South Africa of undermining U.S. interests by maintaining close relationships with Russia and China, which are among its allies and trading partners. It also accuses South Africa of backing Palestinian militant group Hamas that is at war in Gaza with Israel, which South Africa has denied. South Africa has long been a supporter of the Palestinian cause and filed a case accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice in 2023, which is mentioned in the bill as one of its concerns. The bill proposes "a full review of the bilateral relationship" and to "identify South African government officials and ANC leaders eligible for the imposition of sanctions". It later says that these would be people determined by Trump to have engaged in corruption or human rights abuses. No individuals are named. South Africa's relationship with the United States has sharply deteriorated during Trump's second term, during which he has accused the government of anti-white racism and started a refugee programme for Afrikaners, who are descendants of European settlers.
The Citizen
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
US moves closer to sanctions on ANC leaders: Ordinary citizens shouldn't be punished
US moves closer to sanctions on ANC leaders: Ordinary citizens shouldn't be punished – AfriForum Tensions between South Africa and the United States have escalated after a US congressional committee approved a bill that could pave the way for sanctions against ANC officials and senior members of government. According to The Witness, the US–South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025, introduced by Republican congressman Ronny Jackson in April, was passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee this week with minor amendments, bringing it closer to a full vote in the House of Representatives. The bill calls for a review of the entire relationship between the two nations, citing South Africa's growing alignment with 'malign actors', including Hamas, China and Russia. It also seeks to identify South African officials eligible for sanctions. Jackson, a vocal ally of US President Donald Trump, said on social media: 'The days of allowing our so-called 'allies' to walk all over us are over!' AfriForum welcomes progress AfriForum welcomed the development, saying it supports 'targeted sanctions' rather than blanket penalties on the country. 'Ordinary citizens should not be punished for the extremism and corruption of politicians,' said Ernst van Zyl, the organisation's head of public relations. ANC's response Deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane said the party was prepared to 'sacrifice' in the name of justice and sovereignty. 'Throughout our struggle, we know that leaders had to sacrifice. We will continue to pay the price of standing for justice, humanity, equality and the rule of law,' she said. She added that ANC allies, including Cuba, had been sanctioned by the US, but the party would not compromise. 'We will continue to speak for ourselves. But who are we when it was just a few years ago that Nelson Mandela was removed from the list of terrorists? The struggle continues.' Relations between the US and South Africa have soured in recent months under Trump's second term. In May, Trump revoked aid funding to South Africa and imposed 30% tariffs on all SA exports to the US, citing what he claimed was a 'persistent trade deficit'. The tariffs take effect from August 1. Additionally, former SA ambassador Ebrahim Rasool was expelled earlier this year and has not been replaced. The US reportedly rejected Mcebisi Jonas as a special envoy, further straining ties. Trade union Solidarity has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to urgently repair diplomatic relations and recommit to a non-aligned stance. 'This must include co-operation on terrorism, military and intelligence matters,' said Solidarity's Jaco Kleynhans. Solidarity is also lobbying the US government directly and plans to meet with US lawmakers before the final vote on the bill. The Presidency has not yet issued a formal response to the bill's advancement. 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!
The South African
16 hours ago
- Politics
- The South African
US bill to sanction South Africa - and ANC officials
A controversial bill that calls for a sweeping review of US-South Africa relations – including the possible sanctioning of senior ANC officials – has passed a key stage in the United States Congress. The US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025 (H.R.2633), introduced by Republican Representative Ronny Jackson, was approved by the House Foreign Affairs Committee this week, with 34 members voting in favour and 16 against. The bill directs the US government to re-evaluate diplomatic, trade, and military ties with South Africa, citing Pretoria's recent engagements with global powers such as Russia, China, and Iran, as well as its controversial interactions with Hamas. In his statement following the vote, Jackson said: 'South Africa made its choice when it abandoned America and our allies and sided with communists and terrorists. My bill gives President Trump the tools to hold their corrupt government accountable.' The bill comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Pretoria, largely fuelled by: South Africa's joint military drills with Russia and China Engagement with Hamas leadership The International Court of Justice genocide case against Israel, led by South Africa South Africa's decision to downgrade diplomatic ties with Taiwan While supporters of the bill described it as a necessary step to restore 'accountability' in the US-South Africa relationship, critics warned that the proposed measures are disproportionate and could further strain an already fragile relationship. 'Differences between allies should be resolved through diplomacy, not punitive legislation,' said one committee member opposed to the bill. The bill must now be debated and approved by the full House of Representatives, then proceed to the Senate before it can be signed into law by President Donald Trump. However, experts are sceptical about its prospects. This is not the first time such legislation has been proposed. A similar bill introduced in 2023 passed the House, but failed in the Senate. If enacted, the bill could lead to sanctions against ANC officials, disrupt trade talks, and affect South Africa's standing under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a key trade agreement with the US. South African officials have not yet issued a formal response to the committee's decision. 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.
The Citizen
17 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Big move in US Bill's bid to sanction ANC officials
The Bill was introduced by Republican representative Ronny Jackson, who took to social media on Tuesday to celebrate the milestone. US President Donald Trump meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on 21 May 2025. Picture: AFP A Bill to review the bilateral relationship between the United States (US) and South Africa, and to impose sanctions on government and ANC officials, has made significant progress. The US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025 (H.R.2633) was introduced in April and this week moved through US Congress' foreign affairs committee with minor amendments. This paves the way for the Bill to be debated and voted upon. It was introduced by Republican representative Ronny Jackson, who took to social media on Tuesday to celebrate the milestone. 'Today, my Bill to fully review America's relationship with South Africa and give President Trump the tools necessary to hold their corrupt government accountable passed through committee. The days of allowing our so-called 'allies' to walk all over us are over!' Afriforum welcomes the move In reaction, head of public relations at AfriForum, Ernst van Zyl, said the ANC's 'years of reckless and extremist diplomatic actions and rhetoric are now bearing bitter fruit'. 'AfriForum maintains that ordinary citizens of the country should not be punished for the extremism and corruption of politicians. 'AfriForum has never advocated for sanctions that target South Africa as a whole. Therefore, the introduction of targeted sanctions against these politicians will be a welcome development,' Van Zyl added. This is a developing story
