By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) has received former US ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool’s, report on the circumstances surrounding his expulsion from the United States (US).
The ANC’s four-day NEC meeting is sitting at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg and will be concluded on Monday.
The NEC members agreed unanimously that Rasool had been “out of order” with his remarks that triggered his expulsion. The former ambassador fingered US president Donald Trump as the poster boy of US white supremacy.
Rasool, 62, was ordered to leave the US after Secretary of State Marco Rubio called him a “race-baiting politician who hates America”.
The NEC was told that the government should not rush to send representatives to the US. It should instead wait for the name of the new US ambassador to South Africa to be formally revealed. This week, Trump nominated 69-year-old pro-Israel activist Leo Brent Bozell III for the role.
US-South Africa relations have deteriorated sharply since Trump returned to power in mid-January.
Since taking office, Trump and his ally, South-Africa born Elon Musk, have singled out South Africa, in particular criticising it over its land reform policies.
Trump has cut all aid to the country and, despite his hard-line stance on most refugees and asylum seekers, says that members of South Africa’s white, Afrikaner community would be granted refugee status in the US because of the persecution he says they face at home.
ANC Deputy Secretary-General and chair of International Relations sub-committee Nomvula Mokonyane says the NEC meeting thoroughly reflected on South Africa’s diplomatic tensions with the United States.
“Our approach is about managing and maintaining our trade relations as well as engaging using the diplomatic channels.”
She says South Africa will, however not bend to the United States’ pressure.
Fullview learnt that everyone in the NEC meeting agreed that South Africa must take a cautious approach in dealing with the US. Especially given the large-scale trade relations between the two countries.
ANC NEC member and International Relations miniser Ronald Lamola has assured that while government is committed to making the US-SA relationship work, there are certain matters the country will not compromise.
“That includes the issue of the ICJ, this is a matter we will not withdraw from the court, which we have already put. It’s a matter that we believe has to be dealt with on its merit. So, this is a matter that we will not compromise on.”
“Standing by our principles sometimes has consequences, but we remain firm that this is important for the world, and the rule of law,” he added.
South Africa was the first nation to drag Israel to the ICJ over its genocidal war on Gaza that has claimed more than 48,000 lives and reduced the enclave to rubble. A ceasefire that took hold on Jan. 19 is currently in place.
After South Africa instituted proceedings against Israel alleging violations of the 1948 Genocide Convention in the Gaza Strip, several countries joined the case including Nicaragua, Colombia, Cuba, Libya, Mexico, Spain, Belize, and Türkiye.
The International Criminal Court has separately issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Trump has also sanctioned the ICC for investigation against the Israeli officials.
Meanwhile the Chairperson of the party’s integrity commission Frank Chikane will present a comprehensive report on its investigations into party members and will also provide recommendations to the national executive committee.
The NEC will then be responsible for determining the appropriate actions to take against members who have appeared before the integrity commission in connection with allegations of misconduct.
While the ANC has chosen not to disclose the names of those mentioned in Chikane’s report, spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said there are about “four of five” officials on the report.
“The NEC will then develop a view of that report, and we will communicate the decision of the nec in respect of the work and the particular reports that are going to serve before the NEC today,” said Bhengu-Motsiri.