By design, American foreign policy tends to be patient. It tolerates a lot of noise from partners, and even from adversaries. But there comes a point where patience turns into strategic blindness.
South Africa is approaching that point.
The governing African National Congress (ANC) — once admired in the United States as the party of Nelson Mandela — has drifted into something far darker: a government increasingly aligned with America’s enemies and hostile to America’s allies.
If Washington continues to pretend otherwise, it will only embolden a regime that is openly undermining Western interests while still enjoying Western economic privileges.
Congress should act.
The ANC’s pattern has become increasingly anti-American, anti-Israel, and pro-Iran.
Let’s start with the obvious: this isn’t about one diplomatic disagreement. It’s a pattern.
Over the past few years, the ANC leadership has taken a series of positions that align almost perfectly with the geopolitical agenda of Iran, Russia, and other anti-Western actors.
Consider just a few examples.
First, South Africa led the legal assault against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing the Jewish state of genocide in Gaza. That case — launched in December 2023 — instantly became one of Tehran’s biggest propaganda victories in decades.
Second, senior ANC figures have openly embraced Hamas.
Former foreign minister Naledi Pandor admitted she spoke directly with Hamas leaders after the October 7 attacks — a terrorist atrocity that murdered over 1,200 Israelis. Instead of condemnation, the ANC’s tone was sympathetic.
Third, radical political figures inside South Africa have escalated violent rhetoric against Jews and Israelis.
Populist firebrand Julius Malema regularly leads crowds in chanting “Kill the Boer” and has suggested that violence against Israelis could be justified if conditions change.
Fourth, the ANC government has deepened diplomatic ties with Iran, one of the world’s most aggressive sponsors of terrorism.
Pretending these developments are unrelated would be naive. They form a coherent picture.
The ANC has positioned itself as part of the anti-Western bloc. The relevance to the United States could hardly be clearer.
For decades, the United States has treated South Africa as a strategic partner.
Washington grants the country major trade privileges through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). That program allows billions of dollars of South African exports to enter the U.S. market duty-free.
In other words, American taxpayers and consumers are subsidizing a government that increasingly attacks American allies and echoes the rhetoric of America’s adversaries.
Imagine a company doing that.
If a supplier publicly undermined your interests while still expecting favourable contracts, any competent board would terminate the relationship immediately.
Foreign policy should follow the same logic. Allies get benefits. Adversaries get consequences
Increasingly, the ANC’s hostility is no longer subtle.
Senior ANC figures have repeatedly framed global politics as a struggle between the “Global South” and the West — language that mirrors the narrative pushed by Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran.
Even South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, widely portrayed abroad as a moderate, has presided over a government that:
Sent a letter of condolence from Cyril Ramaphosa himself following the death of Imam Khamenei, and welcomed Russian warships for joint naval exercises during the Ukraine war, accused Israel of genocide while ignoring Hamas terrorism, expanded diplomatic cooperation with Iran, and amplified anti-Western messaging in international forums.
Meanwhile, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula regularly deploys rhetoric attacking the United States and Israel in populist terms designed to inflame domestic politics.
Self-styled humanitarian celebrity Imtiaz Sooliman, through his high-profile aid work and public commentary, has also helped amplify the narrative that Israel alone bears responsibility for the conflict — reinforcing the political messaging coming from the ANC.
Whether intentional or not, the effect is clear.
South Africa’s ruling political ecosystem has become a megaphone for narratives that benefit Iran
Fortunately, Washington is finally starting to notice.
Some members of Congress have already recognized the problem. For example, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R., Texas) introduced legislation calling for a formal reassessment of U.S. relations with South Africa. The proposal demands a comprehensive review of whether the ANC government still qualifies as a reliable partner, and Sen. John Kennedy (R., La.) has advanced similar legislation in the Senate.
These bills represent a long-overdue reality check.
If the ANC wants to behave like a strategic adversary, it should not continue receiving the economic privileges reserved for allies.
But Congress can and should do more. And let’s be clear: Washington does not need to abandon South Africa, but it must distinguish between the country and its ruling party.
The people of South Africa remain overwhelmingly pro-Western. Many business leaders, civil society groups, and opposition parties are deeply committed to democratic values and free markets.
The problem is the ANC. Congress should therefore take several steps. The first step is to pass the Jackson and Kennedy legislation on a bipartisan basis. Then, Congress should launch a full strategic review of U.S.–South Africa relations, condition AGOA benefits on measurable alignment with Western security interests, and impose targeted sanctions on officials responsible for advancing hostile foreign policy agendas.
Those sanctions should be considered for figures such as Cyril Ramaphosa, Julius Malema, Fikile Mbalula, Naledi Pandor, other senior ANC officials if their policies continue to undermine Western interests.
The message should be simple: under President Donald Trump, America will not bankroll governments that actively work against it.
The tragedy here is that South Africa could be one of the West’s strongest partners in Africa.
It has the continent’s most sophisticated financial system, deep capital markets, world-class infrastructure, a dynamic and long-suffering private sector, and enormous natural resources.
But under the ANC, the country has drifted into ideological hostility toward the very nations that built its prosperity. That trajectory isn’t just bad for South Africa; it’s bad for American interests.
And it’s exactly the kind of geopolitical vacuum Iran, Russia, and China are eager to fill.
Washington has ignored the warning signs long enough. Now Congress needs to act — clearly, firmly, and without illusions.
Because when a government starts behaving like a proxy for America’s adversaries, the appropriate response is not denial. It’s consequences.
Robert Hersov is a South African political activist.
