US Bill that targets ANC leaders clears hurdle, signals tough stance on SA’s ties to adversaries

Key topics:US House committee advances bill targeting ANC leaders over alleged ties to China, Russia, Iran, and Hamas.Legislation empowers President Trump to impose sanctions on South African officials accused of corruption or aiding US adversaries.Bill cites ANC’s anti-Israel stance, CCP ties, and governance failures as grounds for a full review of US-SA bilateral relations.Sign 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.The auditorium doors will open for BNIC#2 on 10 September 2025 in Hermanus. For more information and tickets, click here..By Patrick KiddA controversial US bill that could redefine relations with South Africa and punish ANC leaders for alleged ties to hostile powers has cleared its first legislative hurdle in Congress.The US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025, tabled by Republican Congressman Ronny Jackson (Texas) and co-sponsored by John James (Michigan), proposes a formal review of bilateral ties and authorises President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on ANC officials linked to corruption, human rights abuses, or engagement with America’s adversaries.“South Africa made its choice when it abandoned America and sided with communists and terrorists,” Jackson posted on X after the bill passed through committee. He declared the era of “so-called allies” walking over the US is “OVER”..If adopted, the bill would require a classified intelligence report within 120 days identifying ANC leaders allegedly supporting anti-US actors, including China, Russia, Iran, and Hamas, a terrorist organisation backed by Iran. A timeline for sanctions would follow.Jackson has accused South Africa of undermining US interests by aligning with global pariahs and launching anti-Israel attacks, particularly following the 7 October 2023 Hamas assault on Israel. The ANC’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party and its praise of Russia, which is accused of war crimes in Ukraine, also feature prominently.The legislation highlights “decades of corruption and mismanagement”, citing the ANC’s “abandonment of non-alignment” and referencing former SA ambassador Ebrahim Rasool’s comments labelling Trump “extreme” and a “white supremacist”.With the House vote pending and Senate approval still required, the bill remains in early stages. However, it signals Washington’s growing unease with the ANC’s geopolitical alliances, and Trump’s readiness to retaliate..This article is a précis of a piece first published by Tech Financials which can be read in full here.

US Bill that targets ANC leaders clears hurdle, signals tough stance on SA’s ties to adversaries

Related Stories

Brian Benfield: The Fair Pay Bill will not create a single sustainable job

Anthea Jeffery: SA mining is "uninvestable" — the rational plan to save it

Either Berkshire Hathaway or Softbank will survive. Not both.

Shuli Ren: OpenAI is so yesterday — Even for SoftBank