Roelf Meyer responds to threats from the United States

South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States, Roelf Meyer, said that they want to engage with the United States on its recent actions.

This followed an announcement by United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio about a new visa restriction policy.

This policy targets foreign nationals who enact or enable policies that promote race-based discrimination.

The new policy is also targeting those who incite violence or enable land confiscation without compensation in South Africa.

The United States Ambassador to South Africa, L. Brent Bozell III, said that the time for endless dialogue with South Africa has run its course.

“As has been made clear, the time for endless dialogue has run its course. No more. America has just so much patience,” he said.

“We want strong and lasting relations with the South African government. It needs to show it wants the same. So far, it has shown it cares for neither.”

He added that the visa restriction policy is only the first step in a series of escalatory measures that will show America’s firm resolve in this matter.

In response, Meyer said they have noted Rubio’s announcement and would like to engage further on the issue.

“There are certain misunderstandings, in our view, that led to the announcement by Secretary Rubio,” he said.

“We would like to address it and come back and say to him that we would like to understand better and more.”

Meyer added that, at the same time, they would like to consider what South Africa can do on its side.

“In the discussions we’ve had so far, some of the issues that Secretary Rubio mentioned have already been addressed and actually been removed from the list,” he said.

He said that they would like to understand why these issues are now back on the list.

Roelf Meyer’s comments versus reality

The latest action by the United States is not surprising, given the ANC’s animosity towards the world’s largest economy.

The United States has outlined five preconditions for the normalisation of bilateral relations with South Africa.

• The classification of farm attacks as a priority crime. Each farm attack should be investigated by the Hawks.

• A clear and unequivocal public condemnation by the ANC of “Kill the Boer, kill the Farmer”, whether used in song or any other context.

• No land expropriation without fair market compensation. Expropriation should only proceed after all legal processes have been fully exhausted.

• Exemption of USA entities from all Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) requirements. Any race-based legislation that may constitute a non-tariff trade barrier should not apply to USA entities.

• Ending its association with Iran and enemies of the United States and becoming a non-aligned state, as it purports to be.

Despite the clear demands from the United States, the ANC and the government have doubled down on many of the controversial policies.

International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola said South Africa would continue to pursue racial redress despite the United States’ visa announcement.

It is not clear which of the five requirements listed above Meyer is referring to as having been removed, as experts agree that the government has not addressed any of them.