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South Africa will not be bullied: Mbalula hits back at Trump
“We are not America’s side hustle”
Fikile Mbalula, secretary general of the African National Congress, has accused the Donald Trump administration of attempting to isolate South Africa on the global stage. Speaking at the ANC’s 16th regional conference, he said Washington’s behaviour suggests they see South Africa not as an equal partner but as something less: a nation to be bossed around or sidelined rather than respected.
Mbalula called the alleged strategy “imperialist,” arguing that it is designed to undermine South Africa’s independence while spreading misinformation. He believes the Trump administration is actively working each day to push South Africa to the sidelines and punish it diplomatically.
A democracy targeted for no clear reason
Mbalula emphasised that South Africa has just held a free and fair election, formed a coalition-led government of national unity within 14 days, and remains a thriving democracy. For him, that raises a major question. Why target a peaceful nation that has proven it respects the rule of law and democratic values?
He also criticised local groups travelling to the United States and spreading narratives he says are false and damaging. These messages, he warned, have fuelled pressure on the country, including accusations of genocide that South Africans of all backgrounds have rejected.
Building new bridges, not relying on one
In response, Mbalula said the government is moving to diversify diplomatic and economic partnerships. The message is simple. South Africa will not rely on any single superpower and will instead ensure strong international relationships across the world.
He said the actions of the Trump administration amount to attempts at economic and diplomatic isolation, such as boycotting South Africa’s recent G20 summit and applying political pressure over human rights claims. He believes this climate has directly contributed to current pressures on the country.
“Ordinary Americans are not the enemy”
Although sharply critical of Trump, Mbalula insisted that many citizens in the United States still support South Africa. He pointed to decades of solidarity, particularly during the anti-apartheid struggle, and expressed hope that those ties remain intact today. In his view, Trump’s term will pass, the tension will ease, and mutual respect will eventually prevail once again.
Sovereignty: a line in the sand
Mbalula reiterated that the ANC will not allow South Africa to be reduced to a pawn. The country’s sovereignty, he said, is non-negotiable. South Africa will continue to stand proudly as a democratic state that chooses its own direction.
As global power dynamics shift, his message resonates with many South Africans who believe the nation must be assertive about its role in the world. The future of international relationships may feel uncertain, but Mbalula’s stance signals one thing clearly. South Africa intends to remain independent and respected and never be treated as someone else’s side hustle.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: ANC
