Representatives from the Solidarity Movement met with the U.S. Senate and House Foreign Affairs Committees in Washington, D.C., advocating for South Africa’s continued inclusion in AGOA. Concurrently, the delegation pressed for the U.S. to critique the ANC government’s growing ties with authoritarian nations like Russia, China, and Iran, and its handling of issues like corruption, infrastructure decay, and minority discrimination.
Jaco Kleynhans, the Movement’s International Liaison head, noted the U.S. Congress’s renewed interest in South Africa’s global role. He pointed to concerns raised in Washington over South Africa’s non-aligned stance, especially after the war in Ukraine and the recent BRICS Summit. “South Africa remains a democracy, and the U.S. can leverage its influence to ensure it stays that way,” Kleynhans said.
Over the coming weeks, the Solidarity Movement will engage with federal and state-level politicians across over ten U.S. states. Their goal is to safeguard member interests, especially in sectors like agriculture, mining, and car manufacturing, which are beneficiaries of the AGOA agreement.
Their U.S. visit aims to shape American policy toward South Africa directly. Beyond meeting lawmakers, the Movement will interact with advocacy groups and U.S. media to discuss South African affairs. They emphasise that amid the African continent’s challenges, South Africa can remain a beacon of democracy and free-market economy.
However, they stress the need for political change and international support for civil society, the private sector, and organisations fostering change in South Africa. The Solidarity Movement has called on the U.S. to:
1. Heighten pressure on the ANC, given its concerning alliances with nations like China and Russia.
2. Publicly condemn issues like corruption, power centralization within the ANC, and racially charged rhetoric.
3. Uphold strong economic ties, including AGOA, to bolster South Africa’s private sector and critics of the ANC.
4. Back civil groups and political opposition via moral and financial means, and offer them resources in the U.S.
5. Use international bodies, including the UN, to pressure the ANC.
The Solidarity Movement will also hold discussions with politicians in states like Texas, Michigan, Virginia, and South Carolina in the coming days.
