President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the government will take action against groups and individuals lobbying the US to take punitive action against South Africa.
He warned that such efforts threatened the country’s sovereignty and constitutional order.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday on the sidelines of the ANC birthday celebrations, Ramaphosa said the state was carefully assessing whether such actions crossed legal boundaries.
He stressed that any response would be grounded in law and due process, rejecting calls for rash or politically motivated action.
“We are examining these matters with care and diligence,” Ramaphosa said. “We are a constitutional democracy and we will act strictly within the law.”
Groups such as AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement have, for years, promoted claims that South Africa is pursuing “race-based laws” and that white citizens face systematic persecution.
These claims, widely disputed by the government and independent analysts, have gained international traction after being echoed by influential figures including Trump and South African-born businessman Elon Musk.
Earlier last year, the MK Party laid criminal charges against AfriForum, accusing the organisation of treason and alleging that it had run an international misinformation campaign portraying South Africa as hostile to minorities.
The party argued that overseas lobbying efforts were designed to undermine the legitimacy of the elected government.
No formal charges have been brought to date.
Public pressure has also mounted on Ramaphosa to respond more decisively, with critics arguing that internal groups appealing to foreign powers amount to an attack on democratic governance.
The president, however, cautioned against conflating political disagreement with criminal conduct.
The issue has emerged amid strained relations between Pretoria and Washington.
While the two countries maintain strong trade ties and long-standing diplomatic engagement, relations have cooled due to disagreements over land reform, foreign policy positions, and allegations of misinformation influencing US decision-making.
Ramaphosa said South Africa remained committed to constructive relations with Washington but would not tolerate efforts to invite foreign interference in its domestic affairs.
“Differences must be resolved through democratic processes and dialogue, not through external pressure,” he said.
The government is expected to outline possible legal and diplomatic steps once its review is complete.
(IOL)
