Dr. Reneva Fourie
Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool’s very objective and tactful analysis of the landscape in which he was stationed, to an intellectual platform, is being exploited to intensify aggression against South Africa.
The declaration of Ambassador Rasool as ‘persona non grata’ should be located within a series of dedicated regime change efforts by the US in South Africa. Regime change refers to the removal of a democratically-elected, sitting government by undemocratic means.
The US had always had a strategic interest in South Africa because of its location and critical minerals, hence, before 1994, the US government supported the apartheid regime.
However, following South Africa’s transition to democracy, the US sought to foster a more positive and cooperative relationship with the new government. Its tactic for the first three decades of democracy had been to build perceivably mutual relations in a wide range of social, security and economic areas.
Relations progressively soured when South Africa refused to side with Ukraine during Russia’s interventions to support the people of the Donbas region, and then further went on to lay a charge against Israel at the International Court of Justice for the genocide in Gaza.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has increasingly become the US’s preferred governing party in South Africa, given its pro-Western and pro-Israeli stances. It had, several times, tried to change South Africa’s positions on Ukraine and Israel.
In the build-up to the 2024 general elections, relations between the US and the DA strengthened, characterised by regular meetings between the DA and US officials locally and abroad. The DA participated in a conference in Gdansk, Poland, in 2023, which foregrounded the formation of an electoral coalition, then named the Moonshot Pact, aimed at unseating the ANC.
The quest to unseat the ANC through electoral means failed but the DA was able to gain entry to power through the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU), which was significantly promoted by market forces.
The assumption of power in the US by the Trump administration, which is heavily influenced by the Zionist lobby, allowed for a rapid intensification of the regime change agenda. The US is highly reliant on South African minerals, making their acceleration of regime change a matter of urgency. Hence, the Trump administration is reestablishing relations with former apartheid-era forces. This shift is located within deeper, more dangerous global ideological shifts.
These shifts are particularly characterised by a rise in right-wing politics expressed through narrow nationalism or ethno-culturalism; and an intensified capture of governments and the public sector by private sector elites, billionaires, tech oligarchs and bankers.
The technological innovations combined with new ideological formations sweeping the world are used to erode further and assault the public interest and the common good at the altar of the fetish of individualism, private interests and material greed.
False complaints by AfriForum and Solidarity about state genocide, land thefts and restrictions of cultural rights resonate with the general global thrust to the right.
The Trump administration appears to be leveraging its complaints to retaliate against South Africa for, among other reasons, its support for the Palestinian cause and its legal actions against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Furthermore, dislodging the current South African government would be instrumental in disintegrating BRICS, particularly the initiative to enable trade in local currencies rather than relying on the US dollar. Ambassador Rasool is an unfortunate casualty.
The visit by the DA to the US has solidified the misrepresentations of South Africa’s transformation policies propagated by AfriForum and Solidarity.
This visit aimed to position the DA as the credible voice of the South African people, even though it garnered slightly above 20% of the vote in the last general election. In a concerning move, the DA has now created an alternative structure to the official Department of International Relations and Cooperation, blatantly violating the Constitution and showing a lack of respect for the President, the rightful custodian of our international relations.
By disregarding the foundational statement of intent underpinning the GNU, the DA is circumventing a legitimate government and rapidly attempting to seize control over foreign affairs, all while encouraging pressure from the US to derail South Africa’s transformation agenda.
Given the potential negative consequences of the Trump administration’s policy decisions, South Africa must accelerate its significant strides in diplomatic and economic engagements in multilateral and bilateral relations.
The sectoral discussions within the G20 have yielded positive outcomes, despite the US administration’s stance and the DA’s divisiveness, demonstrating South Africa’s ability to navigate complex global economic landscapes. Additionally, the recent visit of a high-level delegation from the European Union highlights South Africa’s diplomatic influence and growing partnerships.
Furthermore, South Africa must continue championing the BRICS Plus initiative, reinforcing economic ties beyond traditional Western markets. Equally important is the promotion of a pan-Africanist agenda focused on self-reliance and economic integration on the continent.
Most paramount, however, to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, it is absolutely essential that the DA be expunged from the GNU without delay. Their actions demonstrate a blatant disrespect for the will of the South African people and undermine the collaborative efforts of its GNU partners. Allowing the DA to remain in the GNU jeopardises our collective progress and national integrity.
We must assertively demand their immediate exit to ensure that the government truly reflects and serves the interests of the citizens it represents. The time for decisive action is now; we cannot afford to compromise our values or the democratic aspirations of our nation.
* Dr Reneva Fourie is a policy analyst specialising in governance, development and security and co-author of the book ‘The Art of Power: Pursuing Liberation and Nation-building’
** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.