Lobby group AfriForum has defended its call for targeted sanctions against corrupt ANC leaders, saying this won’t harm the broader South African economy.
This follows the approval of the US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025 by a US House Committee.
The bill, introduced by Republican Congressman Ronny Jackson, seeks to provide President Donald Trump with the authority to impose sanctions on South African government officials accused of corruption and of supporting regimes hostile to US interests, including China, Russia, and Iran.
It also seeks to identify ANC leaders who should face sanctions.
“South Africa made its choice when they abandoned America and our allies and sided with communists and terrorists,” Jackson said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.
South Africa made its choice when they abandoned America and our allies and sided with communists and terrorists.
Today, my bill to fully review America’s relationship with South Africa and give President Trump the tools necessary to hold their corrupt government accountable…
— Ronny Jackson (@RepRonnyJackson) July 22, 2025
Speaking during an interview with Newzroom Afrika, AfriForum’s Ernst van Zyl said the ANC’s corrupt governance and hostile diplomacy had triggered international backlash.
He argued the blame lies with the ANC, not AfriForum, and noted that the group had tried to engage President Cyril Ramaphosa on domestic solutions.
“If as a whole South Africa is punished or sanctioned by the United States, I don’t see why AfriForum should be blamed or made the scapegoat for that. The main blame should be for the South African government for their antics, extremist rhetoric and the laws that they are pushing that caused reaction and retaliation from the United States in the first place.
AfriForum welcomes the US bill imposing sanctions on specific ANC leaders, reiterating that it never advocated for the targeting of the entire country but the SA government. Afriforum’s Ernst van Zyl says they shouldn’t be blamed should this happen.
Watch:… pic.twitter.com/6swJIm195R
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) July 23, 2025
“AfriForum can only take responsibility for that which we advocate,” he said.
The bill still needs to pass the House and Senate before being signed into law by Donald Trump.
South Africa has not yet responded to the latest development.
However, the country has repeatedly defended its non-aligned stance in global affairs, asserting that it remains committed to peaceful diplomacy and multilateral cooperation.
South Africa has yet to appoint a permanent ambassador to the United States following the removal of Ebrahim Rasool earlier this year.
First published by African Insider
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
