Ramaphosa Stands Firm Against U.S. Pressure, Defends South Africa’s Sovereignty
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has made it clear that his country will not be intimidated, following criticism from the U.S. government under former President Donald Trump’s administration.
In his State of the Nation Address delivered in Cape Town, Ramaphosa highlighted global challenges, including the rise of nationalism and protectionism, which he said threaten international cooperation. “We are not daunted to navigate our path through this world,” he stated. “We will not be deterred. As South Africans, we are a resilient people, and we will not be bullied.”
His remarks came just hours after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that he would not be attending the upcoming G-20 summit in Johannesburg. Rubio cited South Africa’s policies on inequality and climate change as reasons for his absence. Meanwhile, Trump falsely accused South African authorities of unlawfully seizing private land, even threatening to cut financial aid pending an investigation.
The diplomatic rift has added strain to South Africa’s relationship with the U.S., its second-largest trading partner after China. This comes at a delicate time as the country’s economy is showing signs of recovery after years of stagnation. Ramaphosa, who currently holds the rotating presidency of the G-20, emphasized that South Africa remains committed to promoting human rights, peace, fair trade, and investment.
Despite Rubio’s absence, the U.S. has confirmed that representatives will still attend the G-20 meeting.
Economic Reforms and National Unity
Since taking office in 2018, following the removal of Jacob Zuma, Ramaphosa has focused on economic reforms and governance improvements. Despite the African National Congress (ANC) losing its parliamentary majority in the last election, Ramaphosa secured another five-year term by forming a coalition government with smaller parties.
His administration aims to achieve over 3% economic growth, with a focus on infrastructure investments totaling over 940 billion rand ($51 billion) in the next three years. The president also stressed the urgency of tackling South Africa’s high unemployment rate, which currently stands at 32%.
During his speech, the South African rand strengthened, gaining as much as 0.7% before stabilizing at 18.44 per dollar.
Ramaphosa outlined a five-year development plan focused on:
• Economic expansion and job creation
• Reducing poverty and living costs
• Strengthening struggling state-owned entities like Eskom and Transnet
• Overhauling municipal funding models to improve service delivery
• Establishing a 20 billion rand annual fund to support Black-owned and small businesses
Energy, Infrastructure, and Industrial Policy
With South Africa’s power sector under strain, Ramaphosa emphasized ongoing reforms at Eskom and the need for private investment in power-transmission infrastructure. Other key initiatives include:
• Investing in solutions for water shortages
• Launching a digital visa-application service to boost tourism
• Developing a new industrialization policy to drive economic growth
• Establishing a regulatory framework for critical minerals
The government remains committed to reducing carbon emissions but will do so at a pace that aligns with the country’s financial capabilities.
Fiscal Policy and Budget Considerations
With Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana set to deliver the national budget in two weeks, Ramaphosa acknowledged pressures to balance fiscal discipline with social spending. There have been growing calls for increased allocations toward welfare grants, wage hikes for civil servants, and bailouts for struggling state-owned companies.
Despite these challenges, Ramaphosa remains confident in his administration’s ability to steer South Africa toward economic stability and global influence.
