ANC Chair Emphasizes South Africa's Sovereignty Amid US Tensions

During a speech on Freedom Day, ANC Chair Gwede Mantashe defended South Africa's independence amidst increasing US pressure regarding the new land expropriation law and called out South Africans seeking refuge in the US.

In a recent address, Gwede Mantashe, the National Chair of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC), firmly defended the nation's sovereignty as tensions escalate with the United States over current land reform policies and racial dynamics. Speaking at Freedom Day celebrations held in Mpumalanga, Mantashe asserted, "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."

This statement comes on the heels of a series of criticisms from US President Donald Trump regarding South Africa's controversial expropriation law, which allows the government to seize land without compensation under specific circumstances. Most notably, in February, Trump signed an executive order describing the law as a potential vehicle for the South African government to "seize ethnic minority Afrikaners' agricultural property."

In response, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa defended the law, emphasizing its purpose is to ensure equitable access to land within the country. Ramaphosa's stance stands in contrast to Trump's comments, which also suggested that Afrikaners could seek asylum in the US due to being "victims of unjust racial discrimination."

Amid these tensions, Mantashe criticized South Africans calling for punitive measures from Trump, questioning why they would seek refuge when they have the option to stay. "Now they are told to go there and be refugees, they are refusing. They must go," he remarked.

The discourse has broadened into social media spaces, particularly on Elon Musk’s platform X, where Musk labeled South Africa's ownership laws as "racist." This critique reflects the ongoing complexities surrounding land ownership, as white South Africans disproportionately hold the majority of land and wealth, legacies of the apartheid regime.

To address the escalating situation, the South African government has appointed a special envoy, Mcebisi Jonas, to enhance diplomatic relations and advance trade efforts in Washington. This follows the recent expulsion of South Africa's ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, after he accused Trump of employing "dog whistle" politics.

Interestingly, last month, members from the all-white separatist town of Orania traveled to the US, seeking recognition as an autonomous state. Mantashe, reflecting on the nation’s future, suggested a vision for unity: "Black people must go and build there, and we mix them," adding that "hatred can never survive peace. It is peace that builds a nation."