‘Don’t play us for fools’: If SA wants to remain a close US partner in Africa, it must meet us halfway

An excellent article emphasizing that all countries have choices. Unfortunately they don't always make the right ones. Tumelo seems to ignore the economic realities just as the ANC does at South Africa's (economic) peril. In his comments on the supposed decline of the U.S. he ignores economic realities. The U.S. economy has grown faster than any of the developed world's major economies consistently over the last decade with a gap that continues to widen. Over the last three years the U.S. economy has grown much faster than China's. Foreign investment in China is collapsing as recent numbers published by their government indicate. At the same time, the U.S. has been gaining substantial inflows of foreign investment. So, Tumelo, which is the stronger partner? Given the disparate sizes of the U.S. and South African economies, American interest is political and strategic, South Africa's is principally economic. Given the parlous nature of the South African economy, her people do not have the luxury of turning their backs on partners such as the U.S., UK and the EU who generate South African jobs. China actually takes jobs away from South Africa while Russia and Iran have economies that are inconsequential. South Africans should think long and hard on May 29 as to who has the best interests of ordinary South Africans at heart. By the actions and rhetoric of the ANC, clearly Cyril and his comrades do not!

Lots of words to summarise the simple. You want SA (current) national government support and 'friendship' - show them self enrichment opportunity and a lifeline to stay in power.

This is not a threat, it is a word to the wise. AGOA for example is not in the US President's gift, it is an Act of Congress and comes with conditions - which South Africa is seen to be ignoring if not actively rejecting. The present alliances the Govt. of South Africa now appears to prefer, with Russia, China, Iran et al are all inimical to the Govt. of the USA and the Country must not be surprised by the consequences. Ramaphosa's latest message to Putin, congratulating him on his "re-election" is a case in point, plus our continued failure to condemn his invasion of a sovereign Country, the Ukraine. And Pandor's cosying up to Hamas is even more shameful. Maybe she doesn't read their communiqués? The latest is that they will continue perpetrating atrocities like October 7th until the State of Israel and all the Jews within it are eliminated. That would genocide Minister Pandor. But you were unable to reply to a questioner on your recent trip to the USA, who asked if you agreed that Iran was an authoritarian state, funding terrorism (Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, in case you have forgotten). You said you did not know what an authoritarian state was! And you lived in South Africa under apartheid - or maybe you were in comfortable exile somewhere in the West, which you now disdain.

In diplomacy there are always consequences. We have joined the Axis of Evil and we will pay for it.

You can't play the American people for fools... unless you're Donald Trump, or Fox News, or Boeing and the FAA, or the Sackler family, or a televangelist, or a war hawk, or a fast food advert, or a general knowledge quiz.

No one is saying that the USA and its citizens are fools, Sir. But neither are we, the citizens of South Africa, fools. We see the USA and how its foreign policy is marked by "America First", "US exceptionalism" as a doctrine driving US foreign policy, the trashing of UN bilateralism by the Bush and trump Administrations, etc, the Iran-Contra crimes, the USA support for a dozen tinpot dictators in Latin America over decades, etc. You get the point. The USA does not hold the high ground in geo-politics. In short, Sir, South Africa has not told you whom your friends should be; show us the same courtesy.

All these b - s childish comments about USA not being a paragon of virtue. And I suppose Russia, China, Iran are ?? This had got nothing to do with the economic survival of millions of South Africans. International relations, except for the ideological hide-bound self-enriching comrades in cANCer, are informed by national self-interest not friends or saving a once proud liberation movement from bankruptcy. But reading these comments it is evident that the Daily Maverick has become a willing repository for anti-semitic tropes, wild accusations, revisionist history and conspiracy theories. It is horrific. It is also obvious that the obsession with Israel, not Ukraine, not the muslim Uyghur real genocide in China, not human rights atrocities in Iran, but with the Jewish state, is far more important to some South Africans than the saving of South Africans from hunger, disease, poverty , by the only world power, hypocritical as it might be, having the capacity or will, with the only ulterior motive to demand that S A has the decency to remain non-aligned as it so righteously proclaims. Pandor and her box at least recognise, if the the DM readers do not, about the crucial support of AGOA and are over there at the US Congress pleading like spoilt brats not to be punished. If this was Peanuts comic strip South Africa would be Lucy and USA Charlie Brown.

William & Rodney - play the ball and not the man. If you don’t agree with my opinions, that is perfectly fine. Whether I choose to use my real name or not is my decision and it makes zero difference at all. If you don’t like it, then I suggest you don’t read my submissions.

Very disingenuous Mr Lagardien! Your anti US bias so clearly and pathetically evident. You list the bombings committed by the US mostly in defence of the free world, human rights, democracy and freedom against the brutal and tyrannical communism which has been/is an evil curse on the world since inception, whilst totally ignoring the bombs from Russia in Chechnya, Syria, Ukraine etc and all the other vile countries like Iran, Venezuela, Zimbabwe etc. Whilst the latter weren’t bombed, the common folk were nevertheless murdered in their thousands. You are like our government - hypocritical, immoral, duplicitous and hugely selective in what you choose to condemn. Given the choice between the US and the West as opposed to the mass-murdering countries that you defend, there is simply no choice. Countries like South Korea, the Baltic States, Eastern European etc are forever grateful that the US stood by them when the communist beast, sponsored by Russia and China, were at full throttle in trying to take over the world in imposing this miserable and monstrous ideology on the world. You, as a so-called academic, would have been on the hit list, together with teachers, government officials, police etc like happened in South Vietnam when the Viet Cong and the NVA were subverting and murdering their way into the South. Remember too that the US bombed Serbia in order to save the Bosnian Muslims. Your memory is short and hugely ungrateful! Fairness and balance is called for.

Representative James and his fellow travellers think South Africa is a vassal like some European countries. We bow to know one but look after our interests. If you think we will be threatened by exclusion from Agoa then think again. That’s when we will move even more closer to China. I hope that’s in your interests. Yes you are not fools but you are bullies. And we hate bullies.