‘SA, US relations have reached a critically low point’: Lamola

South African International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola has declared that ties between South Africa and the United States have hit an all-time low. The minister has blamed this decline on a series of contentious issues, including domestic policies, trade penalties, and human rights disputes. During his recent visit to Washington, Lamola cautioned against efforts to undermine the country's economy and asserted that the US was implementing a racially motivated program for Afrikaner refugees.

As the lead South African representative at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Lamola has been vocal about his frustration with the US administration's approach. Despite attempts to mend the relationship, he warns that South Africa may have to contend with a significant loss of sovereignty, particularly in matters related to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), land reform, and expropriation without compensation.

These issues, Lamola maintains, are of paramount importance to the sovereignty of the South African people and should not be ceded to the US.

Lamola emphasized that the US stance on progressive foreign policy and human rights, as outlined in the UN Charter, is in direct conflict with South Africa's interests. He reiterated that these contentious issues are not up for negotiation and should remain under the control of the South African government and institutions. VIDEO | SABC News provides further insights into Lamola's concerns.