President Cyril Ramaphosa responds to the United States visa sanctions against individuals in South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa said that they are willing to willing and prepared to continue engaging with the United States, just as they engage with all other countries.

He shared this information during an interview with SABC following 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.

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.

Ramaphosa said they have noted Rubio’s announcement of restrictions on certain individuals, though they have not named them.

“As the South African government, we continue to safeguard our nation’s sovereignty,” Ramaphosa said.

“At the same time, we are fully willing and prepared to continue engaging with the United States, just as we engage with all other countries.”

He said that where there are challenges, they will enter discussions with their dignity and sovereignty intact.

“We will engage with those countries without bowing our heads, treating them respectfully, and expecting them to treat us respectfully in return,” he said.

“The US is an important market for us. We are prepared to engage and negotiate with them to find a solution to the challenges our relationship currently faces,” he said.

“We are willing and prepared, as always, to respond to whatever issues they may raise,” Ramaphosa added.

“We trade with them, and there are products that they need from us, just as there are products we need from them. That should bring about a state of equilibrium.”

He added that, as long as the two countries deal with each other as states that command mutual respect, they will find solutions.

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, responds

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, was more aggressive in his response than Ramaphosa.

Lamola accused the United States of meddling in South Africa’s affairs and warned that people should prepare for the worst, as he will not back down.

“The South African public has to prepare itself for the worst-case scenario because the reality is that we are expected to surrender our sovereignty,” he said.

“The reality is that we are expected to surrender our sovereignty on issues related to BEE and land reform, including the Expropriation Act, with nil compensation.”

He said that there are a number of issues that fall under the nation’s sovereignty, which the South African public and South African institutions are fully capable of handling.

This, he said, included South Africa’s foreign policy. “This is a progressive foreign policy with a human rights outlook, as aligned with the UN Charter,” he said.

“These are issues of serious contestation with the US, and we hold the view that they belong strictly to the sovereignty of the South African people. “

“Some of the groups pursuing these matters in the US, such as certain minority groups from South Africa, have lost their arguments at the ballot box.”

He added that South Africa is one of the most thriving democracies, where people address their issues through a democratic process.

“While we remain optimistic about engaging with the American government, we must also ensure that the sovereignty of the South African Constitution remains sacrosanct.”