Johannesburg – A senior fellow at the conservative Hudson Institute, Joshua Meservey, has ignited a heated debate with a controversial proposal for the United States to address what he describes as South Africa's increasingly "anti"-US stance. The suggestion comes at a time when SA-US diplomatic ties are already strained due to disagreements over land reform, South Africa's close relationship with China, and its decision to bring a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Meservey's strategy, outlined in a report published by the Hudson Institute, advocates for the US to target specific ANC officials deemed responsible for policies that are perceived as detrimental to US interests. The proposal focuses on striking at their personal wealth and restricting their ability to travel abroad.
The report paints a damning picture of the ANC, describing it as "one of Africa's most corrupt organisations" responsible for human rights violations. Meservey argues that a more targeted approach is necessary to influence South Africa's behaviour, rather than relying on broad-based measures that could harm the country's economy and its people.
To achieve this, the report suggests utilising tools such as visa bans and sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act, which targets corruption and human rights abuses. Meservey believes that this would not only change the behaviour of the targeted officials but also serve as a deterrent to others who might be tempted to adopt similar "anti-US" policies.
The report also underscores South Africa's strategic importance to the US, particularly in the context of its growing competition with China. Meservey highlights South Africa's position as a dominant economy in the region, a gateway to the rest of southern Africa, and home to approximately 600 American companies.
Meservey stresses that the US has a range of tools at its disposal to target ANC officials, including visa bans and sanctions. He further suggests that the US could investigate potential links between specific ANC officials and sanctioned Russian oligarchs, as well as the ANC's alleged involvement in terrorist financing.
The publication of Meservey's report follows the Trump administration's decision to terminate aid to South Africa in response to what it perceived as increasingly anti-US policies.
However, Meservey's suggestions have sparked widespread debate, with critics arguing that targeting individual officials could be seen as an infringement on South Africa's sovereignty. Concerns have also been raised that such measures could exacerbate tensions between the two nations, potentially harming bilateral relations and US interests in the region.
A senior member of the EFF, speaking on condition of anonymity, strongly criticised the report, accusing it of bordering on racism and "imposing on SA’s freedom”. The EFF member of the Central Command Task Team stated: "As South Africans, we need to be able to choose what position we take when it comes to international relations…while I agree that the ANC is and has been corrupt in the last 30 years, that does not warrant certain individuals to be targeted…especially by a country like the US (which has) transgressed on people’s rights across the world. They are not ones to speak.”
ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri had not responded to questions by the time of publication.
Political analyst Sandile Swana argued that the report was aimed at "taming" the ANC and turning it into a satellite of the US. "At the core of this is that SA is an enemy of the US in terms of this analysis," Swana said. He identified two specific issues that the US has with South Africa: the genocide case opened at the International Criminal Court of Justice against Israel, and the potential warrant of arrest against Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu.
Swana further claimed: "The common interest between the Trump administration and the Hudson Institute is that at the end of the day, the whole agenda is to attain white supremacy in the world… And this white supremacy, for now, excludes China and Russia. It is about the Anglo-Saxon, Western European culture being imposed on all nations and SA being converted into a military base."
He alleged that the US seeks to establish a military base in Simon’s Town to control sea passageways and that the report is about "keeping tame those who support a fight against genocide (and) apartheid, (who) are going to be removed through personal sanctions so that the ANC becomes a US satellite."
Swana concluded: "SA has taken steps to show that all nations, including Israel and the US, must be put to the International Criminal Court for war crimes…The US is aggrieved by that and they want to punish those who are opposing them."
The controversial proposal by the Hudson Institute has undoubtedly added fuel to the already complex and strained relationship between South Africa and the United States.
