Tensions between South Africa and the United States have been high, with US President Donald Trump and several high-ranking US officials targeting the South African government.

Most recently, four US Congress members – Andrew Ogles, Tom Tiffany, Joe Wilson, and Don Bacon – wrote to Trump about South Africa.

They urged him to revoke South Africa’s trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and consider suspending diplomatic ties.

The members argued that South Africa has repeatedly undermined US interests and violated AGOA’s eligibility requirements, which mandate a commitment to free markets, the rule of law, and human rights.

The AGOA is a US trade program that allows eligible sub-Saharan African countries to export a range of products to the US duty-free.

South Africa has participated in the AGOA program since its inception in 2000, when President Bill Clinton was in charge.

South Africa’s trade with the US is made easier through the AGOA, which removes approximately 6,800 US tariffs to promote Sub-Saharan African exports to the US.

The AGOA has been vital in bolstering South Africa’s export sectors and maintaining jobs in agriculture and manufacturing.

In their letter to Trump, the US lawmakers levelled several allegations against South Africa’s government that, according to them, would justify South Africa’s exclusion from the AGOA.

Firstly, they accused South Africa of human rights violations and criticised the country’s land reform policies.

They claimed that the South African government operates as an “ethnonationalist gangster regime” that seeks to implement destructive land reform policies similar to those of Mao Zedong.

Specifically, they alleged that the government has attempted to expropriate land from native South Africans without compensation, violating property rights and undermining the rule of law.

They argued that these actions likely breach the United States’ legal requirements for a country to qualify for AGOA benefits.

In addition, they cited previous US government reports detailing human rights abuses in South Africa.

This includes unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests, government corruption, human trafficking, and gender-based violence, including femicide.

South African government’s allies

They group of United States politicians criticized the South African government’s stance on Israel and alleged support for Hamas.

In particular, the US lawmakers condemned South Africa’s decision to file a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2023, accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.

They described the case as “baseless” and an attack on US allies. They also claim that the ANC has close ties with Hamas, a US-designated terrorist organisation.

The lawmakers also highlighted the long-standing presence of two Hamas-linked charities – the Al-Aqsa Foundation and the Al-Quds Foundation – operating within South Africa.

In addition, they accused South African officials of acting as “Hamas propagandists” by lobbying the international community to lift sanctions on the group and engage with it diplomatically.

Lastly, they spoke out against South Africa’s alleged alignment with the Chinese Communist Party and the country’s hostility toward Taiwan.

The Congress members referenced a 2024 dispute in which South Africa allegedly pressured Taiwan to move its representative office out of Pretoria, violating a 26-year-old agreement.

They argued that this action, taken under pressure from the Chinese Communist Party, contributes to Beijing’s broader efforts to diplomatically isolate Taiwan.

The lawmakers claimed that such actions embolden China and increase the likelihood of a military invasion of Taiwan, which they say is against US national security interests.

Based on these allegations, the lawmakers concluded that South Africa no longer deserves preferential trade access under AGOA and should face diplomatic repercussions.

They praised Trump’s leadership in confronting US adversaries and urged him to take action to hold South Africa accountable.

This letter comes shortly after Trump himself threatened to cut off funding to South Africa and remove the country’s access to AGOA.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s comments

On 7 February, United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending all financial aid to South Africa.

This decision was in response to South Africa’s Expropriation Act, which permits the government to seize property without compensation.

The executive order also extended refugee status to white South African farmers, citing concerns over potential persecution due to the land expropriation policy.

The suspension of aid led to the abrupt halting of funding for HIV vaccine trials in South Africa. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) also ceased support.

On 17 February, Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on countries that levy value-added tax (VAT) on imports, including South Africa.

This move aims to establish “fairer” trade terms and could significantly impact South African exports to the United States.

Earlier this month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he wouldn’t attend a Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg. He cited South Africa’s new land expropriation law as the main reason.

“South Africa is doing very bad things. Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote ‘solidarity, equality, & sustainability.’ In other words: DEI and climate change,” Rubio said.

It is unusual for a secretary of state to skip a G-20 summit, and Rubio’s absence carries the risk of the US being left out of deliberations by some of the world’s wealthiest countries.

Implications for South Africa

SABC US correspondent Sherwin Bryce-Pease said that another Congressman sent a letter supporting South Africa in contrast to the US Congress members’ letters.

Democratic Congressman Jonathan Jackson sent a letter opposing Trump’s decision to halt aid to South Africa.

He argued that selectively punishing South Africa while ignoring other nations was hypocritical and stressed the importance of global partnerships.

Bryce-Pease noted that the Republican letter contained inaccuracies, particularly regarding land expropriation without compensation.

He also pointed out the broader geopolitical dynamics at play, including South Africa’s independent stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, which some US allies oppose.

South Africa is getting mixed signals from the US, with some Trump administration officials, like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, choosing not to engage with the country while others, such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bent, were still planning visits.

Newzroom Afrika US correspondent Simon Marks also pointed out that the Republican letter seems tailored to appeal directly to Trump and his inner circle.

He added that some of the letter’s claims – especially regarding land expropriation and human rights abuses – misrepresent the situation in South Africa, echoing previous misstatements from the White House and Rubio.

Beyond AGOA, the Republican letter also suggested suspending diplomatic ties unless South Africa engages more constructively with the US government.

Marks noted that South African officials have struggled to secure meetings with senior Trump administration figures, raising concerns about the effectiveness of their diplomatic efforts.

Notably, he also warned against assuming this letter and other threats from the US are merely political posturing.

He explained that, unlike Trump’s first term, where some officials moderated his decisions, this time, there may be no one holding him back from taking drastic steps, such as cutting trade benefits or even severing diplomatic relations.