Controversial US bill targeting ANC leaders likely to pass, says former ambassador

A former South African ambassador and seasoned diplomat believes the controversial bill introduced in the United States Congress, seeking to review relations with South Africa and to impose sanctions on some leaders of the African National Congress, will pass.

IOL reported on Wednesday that a bill which seeks to re-evaluate the bilateral relationship between the United States and South Africa, and identify government leaders who should be subject to sanctions, was passed by a US House Committee on Foreign Affairs this week.

The US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025 was introduced in April by Ronny Jackson, a congressman from Texas. The bill, to become a law, will need to be approved by the House and Senate before being signed by President Donald Trump.

The bill accuses South Africa of undermining the United States' interests by maintaining close relationships with the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation, nations that are Pretoria's strong allies and key trading partners. 

Former South African ambassador to Portugal, Dr Kingsley Makhubela, on Thursday told Newzroom Afrika that the Democrats have the numbers, and they might even get support from some Republicans.

"Quite honestly, this bill is likely to pass. If you look at the numbers, both in the House and in the Senate, currently, the House consists of about 435 members and the Republicans are having 219, and I think the Democrats have 217, so it is likely to pass. This time last year, when this bill was first discussed during the (Joe) Biden administration, 61 Democrats voted for the bill to go through, which has similarities with what we are seeing now. 

"The only thing that you see now is that there have been added issues on this bill. For instance, there are questions of the relations with Taiwan playing its role, the question of the tension that arose because of Rasool's (former South African ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool) expulsion, it plays into this bill. So this bill is likely to pass," he said.

Makhubela said the bill is also framed around the United States' national security, and Americans often close ranks across the political divide once concerns about their national security are raised.

Earlier, Ernst van Zyl, head of public relations at AfriForum, said the ANC’s "years of reckless and extremist diplomatic actions and rhetoric" are now bearing bitter fruit.

“From AfriForum’s side, I do not see why punishing corrupt politicians is going to destroy a country’s economy. That is going to be left to the ANC to explain how those politicians who are pushing destructive laws, when they are punished for the human rights abuses or corruption. How is that going to destroy the South African economy or going to affect negatively the average man on the street?" Van Zyl also told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika.

According to a report by IOL earlier this year, the bill mandates a comprehensive review to identify South African government officials and leaders of the African National Congress who may be subject to sanctions for their alleged support of American adversaries such as China, Russia, and Iran.

Commenting on X about the committee's approval of the bill, Jackson said: “South Africa made its choice when they abandoned America and our allies and sided with communists and terrorists. Today, my bill to fully review America’s relationship with South Africa and give President Trump the tools necessary to hold their corrupt government accountable passed through committee. The days of allowing our so-called ‘allies’ to walk all over us are over!”

The bill will now be debated and amended in the House of Representatives before a vote is held on it. The House of Representatives will then submit the approved bill to the Senate for final consideration.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

IOL News