A scathing US Senate hearing has exposed the deep flaws in South Africa’s foreign policy, driven by the ANC’s ideological alignment with malign actors like Iran and China, raising alarm bells about the country’s global standing. The hearing, featuring Senator Ted Cruz and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Marco Rubio, comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa meets President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. on May 21, a meeting overshadowed by accusations of corruption, anti-US positions, and a campaign against Israel that Rubio warns “echoes the claims of America’s enemies.”
The Senate exchange highlighted the ANC’s, rather than the Government of National Unity’s (GNU), role in steering South Africa toward diplomatic isolation. Rubio criticized South Africa’s consistent votes against US interests in multinational forums, its pivot toward the Chinese Communist Party, and credible allegations of corruption tied to Iran, which he says influences South Africa’s aggressive stance against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). “They’re utilizing their forum on the global stage to echo the positions of Iran and radical groups that chant ‘death to America, death to Israel,’” Rubio stated, adding that such actions could expose American officials to international legal risks.
Cruz pressed Rubio on the extent of South Africa’s “malign activities,” pointing to Ramaphosa’s leadership in the ICJ genocide case against Israel and the broader undermining of American national security interests. Rubio revealed that the US opted out of this year’s G20 summit hosted by South Africa due to these concerns, signaling a significant rift. While Rubio noted Ramaphosa’s stated intent to “reset relations” during today’s meeting with Trump, he remained skeptical, saying the US would approach any reconciliation “with eyes wide open.”
The hearing’s revelations underscore a growing sentiment that the ANC’s foreign policy is not only incompetent but actively harmful, prioritizing outdated ideologies over practical diplomacy. This has fueled calls for a different path, particularly in the Western Cape (WC), where the Democratic Alliance (DA)-led government has long advocated for a more Western-aligned approach. With 63% of WC residents preferring ties with Western allies (according to a CIAG poll) and 60% of its exports going to the EU and US, the province is increasingly seen as a potential counterweight to the ANC’s missteps.
Adding to this narrative, South African businessman and activist Rob Hersov, in a BizNews interview with Alec Hogg yesterday, urged the US to support the DA and the Western Cape in forging a distinct foreign policy. Hersov proposed that the US offer preferential trade agreements to the WC, exempting it from higher import tariffs that might be imposed on South Africa as a whole. He also called for targeted sanctions on ANC leaders, particularly those implicated in the Zondo Commission report on state capture, to pressure the ruling party into reform. “The ANC is racist and kleptocratic,” Hersov stated, echoing the Senate’s concerns about corruption and malign foreign influence. He argued that supporting the WC could create a model for governance and diplomacy that prioritizes mutual benefit over ideological posturing.
The Western Cape, with its economic strength - contributing 14.2% to South Africa’s GDP ($57.6B) - and a relatively low unemployment rate of 22.2% (StatsSA Q2 2024), is well-positioned to chart a different course. Its Growth For Jobs strategy has already created 121,000 jobs year-on-year (Q2 2023 to Q1 2024), demonstrating a governance model that could thrive independently. An independent WC, free from the ANC’s foreign policy blunders, could strengthen ties with the US and other Western allies, ensuring stability and economic growth for its people.
As Ramaphosa faces Trump today, the Senate hearing and Hersov’s comments highlight a stark reality: the ANC’s foreign policy is dragging South Africa into diplomatic and economic peril. For the Western Cape, the path to independence offers a chance to break free from this malaise, aligning with global partners who value respect and mutual benefit over empty ideological gestures. The question now is whether the US will heed calls like Hersov’s to support the WC as a beacon of hope in a troubled nation—or if South Africa will continue its downward spiral under the ANC’s faltering leadership.
* Originally published by Maroela Media
