By Thobile Jiwulane
Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Ronald Lamola, left no doubt as to the future of South Africa’s genocide case against Israel when he stressed that there will be no compromise on the issue from South Africa’s side.
Addressing a media briefing on the sidelines of the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at Boksburg Sunday, Lamola ended widespread speculation that Pretoria was contemplating to withdraw at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) due to pressure from Trump. He said the South African government foreign was informed by progressive international anti-imperialism outlook.
“It is in that context that there are issues that we will never compromise on because they are the foundational values of our international relations policy. That is in relations to international law, its respect, with regard to the ICJ matter, our outlook on human rights to our own domestic issues which are foregrounded on the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, on issues of transformation even the International Human Rights Council in Geneva confirms that South Africa does need redress on the land question. So, we can’t compromise on those issues of principle.
We remain open to engage on trade issues, trade relations to open up and to co-operate with the United States of America and the trade issues and any other country in the world. As an emerging economy we need technologies, we need various investments to help us grow the economy. So, we will continue to cooperate in that regard and negotiate trade agreements and trade-related issues.
So, we think there is a space there to engage and negotiate bilateral trade with the US in this regard.
With regards to whether the next South African Ambassador to the US should be black or white, Lamola said the ANC is a non-racial organisation and the Ambassador that would be appointed by the President would be considered on his capability “that we believe is fit and proper, meets the requirements of an Ambassador to the US or any country that we want to deploy that person to.
On whether the ANC would have to consult the DA on foreign policy, the Minister said the SA foreign policy was informed by the country’s constitution, the national interest document, the Foreign Services Act and the National Development Plan that the government was implementing.
“We are not implementing something out(side) of the laws of this country which is not mandated and which is not policy,” Lamola said.
“The policies were adopted even before the seventh administration and it was also part of the rule of law to follow, respect and to implement the policies. Therefore, we will also be breaking the law if we don’t implement what has already been adopted by Parliament and Cabinet,” the Minister said.
If the DA wanted the policies to be reviewed, then the processes must be followed to do so. If the party wanted to alter the Foreign Services Act, it had to follow the parliamentary processes, and if it wanted to amend the National Interest document, it had to follow the same process that Cabinet followed.
He stated that his department was implementing existing laws, and until directed otherwise, including the appointment of the new Ambassador to the US by the President, the department would continue to implement these laws.
“The GNU does not replace the Constitution; it’s not above the Constitution. The Constitution is the supreme law of the Republic of South Africa, it’s above anything else. That is what we are implementing, we are respecting the tenets of the laws of the country,” Lamola said.
The ANC top brass rallied behind Lamola and the government on its foreign policy and its stance on the Palestinian cause. It voiced its strong support for the government’s efforts to advocate for the Palestinian people, including the case at ICJ against Israel’s genocidal activities in Gaza, whose victims are mainly women and children, calling for a ceasefire and humanitarian corridors for aid. The ANC further calls for the unity of Palestine, which will be a good foundation for a lasting peaceful solution.
“The African National Congress (ANC) reaffirms its steadfast commitment to a foreign policy that serves the people of South Africa and advances a more just, peaceful, equitable and inclusive world. As the governing party, the ANC views international relations as a strategic lever to advance the national democratic revolution, stimulate inclusive economic development, deepen solidarity with oppressed people, and build a better Africa and a better world,” the party said.
NEC’s subcommittee on international relations, chairperson Nomvula Mokonyane said the ANC’s international relations are not transactional—they are transformational. Since its formation in 1912, the ANC had advanced a values-based foreign policy reaffirmed in the Freedom Charter.
The ANC or government foreign policy was grounded in the pillars of Pan-Africanism, anti-imperialism, international solidarity, respect for international law and human rights, non-alignment, multilateralism, and the peaceful resolution of conflict. “We reject neo-colonialism, unilateralism, and all forms of domination that undermines the sovereignty and dignity of all nations. These principles are operationalised through the ANC’s five strategic pillars: building a better Africa and world, party-to-party and multilateral relations, transformation of global governance, policy development, and global solidarity campaigns.
In an effort to build a better Africa and better a world, the ANC recognised that the its foreign policy priorities implementation took place “within a very challenging global environment” as a result of the rapidly changing balance of forces and the ensuing challenges that confront South Africa.
Mokonyane stated that the ANC has noted the global shift from unipolarity to multipolarity, driven by the emergence of powers such as China and Russia, which challenges Western dominance and offers opportunities for South-South cooperation. Rising unilateralism and the erosion of multilateral governance institutions require renewed commitment to a fair, just, and inclusive multipolar world order.
Despite the expulsion of Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool by the US, the ANC still wanted the government to pursue cooperation with Washington. “We further note the litany of the executive orders from the US administration, including the return of our ambassador. Despite this, we urge our government to continue to pursue diplomatic engagements with the US government,” Monyane said. – @News_Online