Thousands marched in South Africa to defend national sovereignty against US pressure, with ANC leaders condemning recent diplomatic friction and trade tariffs.
JOHANNESBURG: Thousands of South Africans marched on Saturday to demand respect for their nation’s sovereignty following months of pressure from the United States.
The rallies, called by the ruling African National Congress, were held on Human Rights Day, which commemorates the 1960 Sharpeville massacre. Crowds dressed in the ANC’s green and yellow flooded the avenues of Johannesburg’s economic centre.
Another march was organised later in Cape Town. The ANC manifesto stated that “the principle of national sovereignty is under attack from foreign and domestic forces”.
The demonstrations came 10 days after South Africa summoned US Ambassador Brent Bozell for “undiplomatic remarks”. In some of his first public comments, Bozell had said it was hate speech for black South Africans to use the apartheid-era chant “Kill the Boer”.
“We cannot, therefore, have a white old man, who looks like he’s deranged, tell us in our country, what to do in South Africa,” African National Congress Secretary General Fikile Mbalula told supporters gathered near the Hillbrow communications tower.
Mbalula is seen as a favourite in the race for the ANC presidency at the December 2027 congress. The marches follow repeated clashes between the South African government and US President Donald Trump.
Trump has hit the country with high tariffs, berated President Cyril Ramaphosa over discredited claims of a “white genocide”, and boycotted a G20 summit in Johannesburg last year. He also ambushed Ramaphosa during a White House press conference with misleading video montages about alleged attacks on white South Africans.
Last year, Trump slapped 30% tariffs on most South African exports. The US Supreme Court recently overruled Trump’s tariffs policy, but South Africa is among 60 countries facing a US trade investigation that could lead to further tariffs.
The Trump administration has also clashed with Ramaphosa’s government over South Africa taking US ally Israel to the International Court of Justice. “We want to defend our country,” said demonstrator Siyanda Moloi, a 34-year-old construction worker.
“I think they will get the message. You have to respect our president, our laws, our policies.” Another demonstrator, Noxolo Skomolo, a 53-year-old real-estate agent, said “They hate us”.
“We are protecting our constitution. We don’t want them to bully us. This is our land and our country.” Trump has criticised South Africa’s racial justice policies, enacted to address historic inequalities.
The call to march condemned a “severe attack” on those policies. It stated that “lies are being told about countries in order to justify punitive economic measures and direct foreign interference in domestic politics”.
