There will come a time when a nation wakes up—when it stops looking outward for permission and starts looking inward for direction. A time when its leaders stop measuring sovereignty in handshakes and trade deals and start measuring it in the strength of their own convictions. A time when independence is more than an old declaration in the archives; it is a lived reality, unshaken by economic threats and diplomatic pressures.
But has that time come for South Africa?
Or do we still flinch when Washington clears its throat? Do we still count our worth in AGOA exemptions and White House invitations? The test of true independence is not found in our anthem or flag—it is found in our decisions when the powerful demand compliance. And right now, South Africa stands at a crossroads, asked to choose between national pride and economic survival. But is it a choice at all?
If thinking for oneself is the foundation of true independence, then perhaps we must ask: Who is doing the thinking for us?
There is no sovereignty in dependency. A nation that must weigh every word for fear of economic punishment is not free—it is leased. South Africa speaks of independence, of a foreign policy unshackled by Western influence, yet when Washington raises an eyebrow, ministers scramble, statements soften, and suddenly, economic interests become the excuse for political hesitation.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is the leash. It offers South Africa access to American markets, but at what cost? It is whispered like a warning whenever Pretoria asserts itself—Be careful, AGOA is at stake. It is the economic equivalent of a parental allowance, a reminder that the hand that feeds can also withhold. If AGOA were to disappear tomorrow, would South Africa crumble? If the answer is yes, then the nation’s economy is not independent; it is indebted.
And then there is the new US ambassador pick, Leo Brent Bozell III—a man whose credentials read less like those of a diplomat and more like a conservative media crusader. His appointment is not just a staffing decision; it is a statement. The United States has sent someone who is not merely watching South Africa but watching for deviation, for a sign that Pretoria may be drifting too far from Washington’s preferred orbit. And when that happens, the usual pressures will follow: trade discussions, quiet threats, the unspoken warning that partnerships come with expectations.
This is where Malcolm X’s vision becomes a mirror. Thinking for oneself means standing together. Sticking together means ending oppression. But if South Africa still looks over its shoulder for approval before making decisions, can it claim to be thinking for itself? If a single trade agreement keeps it from pursuing its own path, can it claim to be standing firm?
Independence is not declared once and then secured forever. It is tested, over and over again. And right now, the test is here.
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