South Africa's political landscape hit a heated note this weekend as Gwede Mantashe, the National Chair of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), staunchly defended the country's sovereignty amidst escalating tensions with the United States. His remarks follow controversial comments from US President Donald Trump concerning South Africa's new land expropriation law, which allows for state-facilitated land seizure without compensation under certain conditions.
Mantashe's declaration comes in response to Trump's executive order from February, which branded the land law as a tool for racial discrimination against minority Afrikaners. The ANC official emphasized, "We are a free country, we're a sovereign country. We're not a province of the United States and that sovereignty will be defended," during a speech at Freedom Day celebrations in Mpumalanga.
The law, defended by President Cyril Ramaphosa as a means to promise "public access to land in an equitable and just manner," has stirred dissatisfaction within certain circles of South African society. In a pointed remark, Mantashe criticized those who wished to turn to the US for asylum, saying, "They must go," implying that those unwilling to embrace their homeland should seek refuge elsewhere.
Tensions reached a broader audience through social media, with elevated discussions showcasing views like that of tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who labeled the ownership laws "racist." This underscores the complexities surrounding land ownership in South Africa, where minority white nationals continue to hold substantial wealth and property despite the dismantling of apartheid decades ago.
To alleviate ongoing tensions, the South African government recently appointed a special envoy, Mcebisi Jonas, to enhance diplomatic and trade relations with the United States. The diplomatic effort comes after a diplomatic spat led to the expulsion of South Africa's ambassador to Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, following his accusations against Trump of employing "dog-whistle" tactics.
