Central to the political-diplomatic deterioration is a stance by the ANC government perceived by the State Department as an ‘alignment option’ with US rivals.
Within the framework of a more aggressive and transactional diplomatic stance than that followed by previous administrations, DT is said to have seen the conditions for the ANC to become a target for retaliation.
The next step, according to sources consulted, could involve making South Africa ineligible for the AGOA 2025 programme. The decision would withdraw duty-free access to the US market for South African exporters. It would also have serious budgetary implications, at a time of tension between the ANC-DA coalition over next year's spending. READ MORE