Cape Town – ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has challenged the United States to go ahead and impose sanctions on ANC leaders amid worsening relations between the two countries.
This follows US lawmakers advancing a bill to review US-South Africa relations, potentially resulting in sanctions, and the Trump administration imposing a 30% tariff hike on South African exports, effective 8 August.
In a defiant media briefing on Wednesday, Mbalula accused the US of trying to undermine South Africa’s sovereignty and force the ANC to abandon key policies such as Black Economic Empowerment (BEE).
“If it means that we have to suffer through sanctions as leaders of the ANC let it be. We will never back imperialists to subvert our democracy, to subvert our sovereignty,” Mbalula said.
[WATCH]
Fikile Mbalula says ANC leaders are willing to face sanctions in defence of South Africa’s liberation values. He states that the party will not be intimidated by external pressure, especially from Western powers like the United States. pic.twitter.com/hFt9dxsgG9— SABC News (@SABCNews) August 6, 2025
“We will never forsake our country which we fought for its liberation and we are still marching on even now.
“Not this ANC, not this leadership, if they want to bring sanctions on us, let them bring it on.”
He insisted there is no genocide in South Africa and rejected the idea of appeasing the US by dropping transformation policies.
“This country, South Africa, all its citizens know that it is a democratic country, it’s a liberated country and we are still transforming this country in order to achieve equity, and we will still pursue redress because we are not equal,” Mbalula said.
He criticised the US ambassador’s stance, recalling America’s historic classification of the ANC as a terrorist organisation during apartheid.
Mbalula also expressed frustration that US officials remain unconvinced of South Africa’s democratic progress and transformation, despite engagement efforts from South African leaders and business figures.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
