Pretoria needs US reset, says minister
DA’s Dean Macpherson’s conciliatory tone exposes a rift with ANC coalition partner over how to handle Washington.
Pretoria's governing coalition is calling for a reset in relations with the US, according to Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson. Speaking in an interview, Macpherson described Washington's demands as "fairly straightforward," suggesting a more conciliatory stance than often seen from Pretoria. He warned that failure to manage the situation carefully could jeopardize South Africa's benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and worsen relations with the US. Macpherson believes most South Africans would not want that to happen.
The US has imposed visa restrictions on unspecified South African officials and has pressed South Africa over its Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) rules and laws that allow the state to take land without compensation in some circumstances. South Africa, meanwhile, is pitching mining deals to US companies, hoping that business-to-business relationships will overcome political rifts.
Macpherson's comments reveal a divide within the government between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), with the DA drawing much of its support from white voters and being seen by some as a party of white interests.
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