Mulder, de Jager and Papenfus lift the lid on their diplomatic mission to Washington - BNIC#2

At BNIC#2 in Hermanus, the “three amigos"—VF Plus leader Corné Mulder, NEASA CEO Gerhard Papenfus and SAAI executive director Theo de Jager—unpacked their recent Washington swing and what it means for South Africa. Framing a "leadership vacuum" at home, they delivered a positive but unsparing brief to US officials on the NDR, BEE, EWC and rural security, saying America wants trade, not aid—yet sees non-tariff political barriers. De Jager warned that US tariffs are hammering high-value farm exports, urging relief that "doesn't punish the good." Papenfus said targeted sanctions could change the game but risk backlash. Mulder argued the ANC won't self-correct; ballot-box coalitions and devolution are the path. The trio's verdict: keep pressure, grow trade, and let civil society drive "corridor diplomacy."

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