Opinion piece by: Errol Naidoo
Article source: familypolicyinstitute.com
The 30% tariffs imposed on all South African exports to the US will come into effect on 7 August. The automotive & agriculture sectors will be hardest hit. Reserve Bank Governor, Lesetja Kganyago estimates 100,000 jobs will be lost (mainly in the Eastern Cape).
President Cyril Ramaphosa claimed his government still has “open channels” to the Trump admin to negotiate a trade deal beneficial for both countries. In the meantime, government has set up a “support desk” to assist exporters impacted by the crippling US tariffs.
What Ramaphosa is not admitting is that he, and his corrupt and inept party is the cause of South Africa’s economic woes. The ANC’s economic, domestic and foreign policies has fueled out-of-control corruption, suppressed economic growth and chased away investors.
Ramaphosa can amend SA’s disastrous economic policy by scrapping BEE policies that triggered staggering levels of fraud, theft and corruption. SA is not investor friendly. Its racist policies are designed to enrich ANC cadres at the expense of the entire nation.
Despite winning only 40% of the vote in the 2024 General Elections, the ANC governs like the majority party. Ramaphosa and ANC ministers solely determine SA’s economic and foreign policy – ignoring the input of the 9 other GNU partners who keep them in power.
The reality is, Ramaphosa is an absent president. He is clinging to power for his personal business interest and the ANC’s self-enrichment – and not for the purpose he was elected for. Ramaphosa is a failed leader. He acts and speaks for the ANC NEC – not for SA.
Donald Trump – whether you agree with his methods or not – governs in the interest of US citizens. In contrast, Ramaphosa governs in the interest of the ANC criminal enterprise. SA citizens face economic hardship while corrupt ANC cadres prosper from tender-fraud.
Ramaphosa is a delusional liar. He speaks rule of law, democracy and human rights but misgoverns in line with his Marxist ideology. This explains the ANC’s allegiance to authoritarian regimes like China, Russia and Iran and its links with terrorist groups.
Cyril Ramaphosa, the BEE billionaire, is incapable of empathizing with the hardships of ordinary citizens. While he facilitates the looting of billions of tax-payer funds – children die of hunger in the Eastern Cape ANC stronghold and millions of others suffer malnutrition.
The ANC revealed its contempt for ratepayers by launching a “repair frenzy” in the City of Johannesburg ahead of the G20 Summit in November. Fixing crumbling infrastructure to make Ramaphosa look good – in a city with R22 billion in “irregular expenditure” is criminal.
However, the ANC’s days are numbered. Two Bills were introduced in the US House of Representatives that target ANC officials for antisemitism and corruption. The first Bill was already voted out of committee and heads to the House and Senate for debate and a vote.
Ramaphosa and ANC foreign policy is in direct conflict with US national interest. Unless this is resolved, there is no possibility for a trade deal. But ANC foreign policy is not the policy of the Government of National Unity (GNU). It’s a minority policy of 40% of the GNU.
The DA and the other partners in the GNU must demand a change in both economic and foreign policy to fundamentally alter SA’s economic trajectory. The ANC is clinging to its outdated liberation ideology even though its policies are harming 62 million citizens.
The ANC is a minority party. It has no authority to unilaterally dictate the country’s economic and foreign policy. Ramaphosa needs the votes of the DA to remain in power. The GNU must exercise its power by forcing policy change for the sake of all SA’s citizens.
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Date published: 05/08/2025
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only. Artwork adapted from www.freepik.com
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