ANC fails on 100% of the United States’ demands

The ANC and the government of national unity (GNU) have not implemented any of the United States’ demands to mend relations with South Africa.

This can be a stumbling block in negotiations, such as trade tariffs and participation in the AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act).

2025 has been a tumultuous year for relations between South Africa and the world’s most powerful country, the United States.

It was characterized by a sharp pivot from strategic partnership to open diplomatic and economic confrontation following Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

Soon after taking office, President Trump issued an executive order establishing a special refugee program specifically for white Afrikaner farmers.

The United States cited South Africa’s new land reform laws, called the Expropriation Bill, as a human rights threat to the minority group.

The situation escalated after a May 2025 White House meeting, where Trump confronted President Cyril Ramaphosa with white farm murders.

Ramaphosa and the South African government dismissed most of it as disinformation, but it set the tone for the future relationship between the countries.

The battle was not only political. There was strong action by the United States, which hurt South Africa economically.

The Trump administration froze nearly all foreign aid to South Africa, including funding for its HIV/AIDS relief program.

This move threatened the health of hundreds of thousands of South Africans and led to the dismantling of USAID operations in the country.

In July 2025, the United States also imposed a 30% blanket tariff on South African exports. This hit the automotive and agricultural sectors particularly hard.

Trump further threatened to impose 100% tariffs on South Africa in response to its de-dollarization efforts and increased use of the Chinese yuan.

The United States also boycotted the 2025 G20 Summit hosted by South Africa in Johannesburg in November 2025.

By refusing to send a delegation, Washington effectively signaled that engagement with Pretoria was politically untenable.

The United States’ demands not met

The deteriorating relationship between South Africa and the United States is hardly surprising, considering the ANC’s animosity towards the world’s biggest economy.

In June 2025, the United States outlined four 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.

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

Over the last seven months, the ANC has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to using this tool to accelerate land reform.

In January 2026, ANC SG Fikile Mbalula reiterated that expropriation without compensation must be implemented.

He framed the policy as a means to move young people from small-scale entrepreneurs to significant owners of the means of production.

EFF leader Julius Malema continues to sing “Kill the Boer, kill the Farmer”, including while addressing a crowd after his pre-sentencing hearing in East London last month.

The ANC has been mum on Malema singing this song, despite it being a relatively easy demand to satisfy.

The party has also not classified farm attacks as a national priority crime. This is another easy win which the ANC refused to take.

Instead of easing BEE rules for US companies, the ANC has doubled down on black economic empowerment.

The party framed it as a non-negotiable constitutional mandate despite pressure from its Government of National Unity (GNU) partners and international critics.

ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe went as far as saying anyone who opens a debate about BEE today is promoting white supremacy.

Considering these actions by the ANC, it is clear that it has little intention of satisfying the four demands laid out by the United States.