The ANC is pinning its hope on the United States of America’s Democrats, who opposed the apartheid government, to protect its leaders, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, from a bill that empowers President Donald Trump to sanction them.
ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri revealed this on Wednesday afternoon following news that the Foreign Affairs and Judiciary Committees of the US House of Representatives passed the US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025 that would sanction certain ANC members.
It is now due to be sent to the full House of Representatives, where parliamentarians will vote for it.
Among those who would be victims of the bill is Ramaphosa, who, according to international media, publicly accused the Israeli government of committing genocide against residents of Gaza on October 14, 2023.
“There are many Democrats, including those who were part of the anti-apartheid movements, who will stand up to caution Americans against supporting a president (Trump) who wants to censor and undermine the sovereignty of other nations,” said Bhengu-Motsiri.
Bhengu-Motsiri said the ANC would vigorously oppose an attempt to isolate it from the rest of the nation by reimposing sanctions against it.
“Remember, we come from a history where sanctions were imposed against the apartheid system.
“But also the ANC was isolated by some of those countries that were working closely with the apartheid government, including the United States,” she said.
She was hoping that the bill, which was currently at the proposal stage, would not be passed into law.
According to the international media, United States Congressman Ronny Jackson has introduced the bill that seeks to punish the ANC leaders for supporting America’s enemies, such as China, Russia, and Iran.
“South Africa has brazenly abandoned its relationship with the United States to align with China, Russia, Iran, and terrorist organisations, a betrayal that demands serious consequences,” Daily Investor quoted Jackson.
Certain ANC leaders, who are predicted to be the target of the bill, have been accused of mismanaging South Africa’s state resources, which led to the poor performance of state-owned entities such as Eskom, resulting in load shedding, and Transnet’s failure to operate train transport.
Trump had earlier this year signed an executive order threatening to punish South Africa for Ramaphosa signing the Expropriation Act and Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, which angered Afrikaners who alleged that these laws would strip them of their farming land, destroy their school system and language, and deprive them of employment opportunities.
Trump also accused the country of orchestrating the genocide against Afrikaners, whom he gave free entry into his country as refugees.
In trying to mitigate the situation, Ramaphosa led a delegation, comprising DA leader John Steenhuisen and senior businessman Johan Rupert, to negotiate with Trump.
bongani.hans@inl.co.za
