The International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola has slammed DA’s recent visit to the US over what. The party said it was representing SA’s foreign policy.
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has expressed disappointment over the Democratic Alliance (DA’s) recent “quiet” weeklong visit to the US claiming to support the country’s foreign policy.
Speaking with IOL News, Lamola said that representing South Africa's foreign policy is the preserve of the executive.
This comes after the DA's “quiet” weeklong visit to the US in a bid to strengthen relations between South Africa and the US.
The blue party, which is a member of the Government of National Unity (GNU), argued it is a credible advocate for South Africa’s national interests on the international stage.
“These discussions were aimed at ensuring that US leaders receive accurate and fact-based information regarding South Africa’s domestic landscape and the challenges our nation is currently navigating,” DA’s Member of Parliament and spokesperson on International Relations and Cooperation Louise Powell said.
This comes after DA’s leader John Steenhuisen urged US President Donald Trump’s administration to reconsider the threats to cut critical aid funding in response to the controversial Expropriation Act, saying “it is not true that the Act allows land to be seized by the state arbitrarily.”
However, Trump has since cut funding to the country because he was worried that the newly passed law would lead to land seizure.
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DA has announced that it has concluded its weeklong visit to the US to meet with President Donald Trump’s administration to address diplomatic relations between South Africa and the United States.
Image: File
Lamola said he noted the DA's recent visit to the US, stating that Africa's non-aligned stance advancing its national interest remains a central pillar of its foreign policy.
“South Africa’s nation building project cannot survive and flourish if the majority of our citizens remain in abject poverty, without land, without tangible prospects for a better life,” Lamola said.
“Attacking poverty and deprivation remains our priority, not racial segregation or even racial supremacy.”
“Our nation’s constitution places a strong emphasis on socio-economic rights in the Bill of Rights that imposes a duty to redress past wrongs and improve the quality of life of all South Africans.”
The DA’s visit to the US comes after the lobby groups representing Afrikaners, Afriforum and Solidarity visited Washington following Trump’s decision to offer them refuge in the country.
The visit by the two groups to the country has sparked widespread outrage from the South African government, which blamed them for causing divisions in the country.
However, Powell argued that the party is dedicated to building a mutually beneficial bilateral relationship with the United States, one of South Africa’s largest trade and investment partners.
Powell insisted that the visit was aimed at emphasising the importance of maintaining strong communication channels between our two nations, “in light of recent tensions exacerbated by unnecessary provocations, which come at the expense of the unity and continued economic development of our Nation.”
“It was clear from discussions that much work must be done in order to rebuild bilateral trust,” Powell said.
According to Powell, the DA has consistently called for a comprehensive reform of South Africa’s foreign policy agenda and the consistent application of our policy of non-alignment in advancing our national interest.
The DA remains resolute in opposing the ANC’s divisive, race-based policies, and advocating for a means-based approach to addressing systemic inequality,” Powell said.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
IOL Politics
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