Mbalula dares US to impose sanctions, slams DA for 'betraying' SA's transformation

Key topics:Mbalula blames DA for pushing US to sanction ANCUS bill targets ANC leaders over ties to adversariesAfriForum condemns Mbalula’s remarks as racially inflammatorySign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here.Support South Africa’s bastion of independent journalism, offering balanced insights on investments, business, and the political economy, by joining BizNews Premium. Register here.If you prefer WhatsApp for updates, sign up to the BizNews channel here..By Kerry Lanaghan.ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has doubled down on his party’s commitment to transformative policies, daring the United States to impose sanctions on its leaders while blaming the Democratic Alliance (DA) for encouraging foreign pressure on South Africa.Speaking at a media briefing on the outcomes of the ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, Mbalula claimed that the ANC's Government of National Unity (GNU) partner, the DA, played a role in fomenting US threats of punitive action. According to a report by TimesLIVE, Mbalula accused the DA of “political mischief” and suggested it had campaigned against South Africa's redress policies during its visits to the US.“You can't, for national interest, say undo BEE to appease the US because, among others, this is what the US wants of us,” Mbalula said. “Even if it means that we 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’s comments follow the advancement of a bill by US Congressman Ronny Jackson, which proposes sanctions against ANC leaders for aligning with America’s adversaries such as China, Russia and Iran. As the Mail & Guardian reported, the bill recently passed through the US Foreign Affairs Committee. It could target figures like Nomvula Mokonyane, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, Naledi Pandor, and Ebrahim Rasool.The tensions are compounded by a 30% tariff on South African exports to the US, which will take effect on August 7. Mbalula warned that although the tariffs would impact the economy, the ANC would not scrap policies like BEE: “It’s not going to be possible.”Mbalula also used the platform to lash out at US foreign policy and historical hostility toward the ANC. According to Mail & Guardian, he accused the Trump administration and its allies of wanting the ANC to “abandon what we stand for.” He said: “We are not DA - the DA will address that because they do not want affirmative action, they don’t want redress, they don’t believe in transformation.”But Mbalula’s rhetoric has drawn sharp criticism from AfriForum. In a press release, the Afrikaner civil rights group condemned what it described as a “racist outburst” during the briefing. AfriForum accused Mbalula of stereotyping white South Africans as “murderers” and “car guards” and inflaming a diplomatic crisis by labelling the US as “imperialists.” Ernst van Zyl, Head of Public Relations at AfriForum, said: “Mbalula’s racist outburst against white South Africans exposes the hatred that he and many of his ANC comrades have for the white citizens of South Africa.”Van Zyl also accused Mbalula of attacking US Ambassador Brent Bozell, calling him a “right-wing proponent” who previously supported banning the ANC as a terrorist organisation.The full press release by Afriforum can be read here.Internally, the ANC is also grappling with challenges. As TimesLIVE reported, the NEC resolved to disband the Western Cape provincial executive committee amid factional instability and weak performance. Mbalula also confirmed that talks would resume with the SACP, which recently announced its intention to contest elections independently - a move the ANC believes threatens the national democratic revolution.Meanwhile, Mbalula announced that the ANC’s midterm policy review, the National General Council, would take place in December at Nasrec, and that 1,600 delegates were expected to attend.Despite the growing political turbulence - both at home and abroad - Mbalula clarified that the ANC would not be pressured into abandoning its ideological commitments. “We will never forsake what we fought for … and we are still marching even now,” he said.

Mbalula dares US to impose sanctions, slams DA for 'betraying' SA's transformation

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