Ramaphosa vows crackdown on lobbyists urging US action against South Africa:
While the two countries maintain strong trade ties and long-standing diplomatic ...
iol.co.za/news/politics/2026-01-08-ramaphosa-vows-crackdown-on-lobbyists-urging-us-action-against-south-africa/
Photo: iol.co.za · view article
Ramaphosa Targets Foreign Influence on South AfricaSouth Africa is reviewing legal responses to lobby groups urging US sanctions amid strained Pretoria-Washington ties.
- President Ramaphosa announced plans to act against entities lobbying the US for punitive measures against South Africa.
- He emphasized that such efforts threaten the nation’s constitutional order and sovereignty.
- The government is carefully assessing whether the lobbying crosses legal boundaries and insists on due process.
- Despite diplomatic tensions, South Africa remains committed to constructive dialogue and rejects foreign interference.
Differences must be resolved through democratic processes and dialogue, not through external pressure.— President Cyril Ramaphosa commented on the lobbying activities directed against South Africa.
Story Details
| Last Updated | |
| Total Articles | 1 |
Main Topics
Similar to This
Previous
businesstech.co.za Oct 20
Ramaphosa warns South Africa to brace for a United States blow: Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa must prepare for the loss of AGOA access.
businesstech.co.za/news/government/880476/ramaphosa-warns-south-africa-to-brace-for-a-united-states-blow/
Key FactsRamaphosa warns of possible AGOA exclusion
5 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: trtafrika.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: trtafrika.com
- Ramaphosa said South Africa’s AGOA membership remains uncertain while the government continues discussions with US counterparts.
- AGOA grants eligible African countries duty-free access to the US market for thousands of products; South Africa has benefited for years.
- Trump’s administration tightened pressure over his claim that South Africa persecutes white people; the government calls it a fringe-group falsehood.
- Ramaphosa called potential job consequences devastating and highlighted China’s May-introduced zero-tariff scheme for qualifying South African goods.
I need, as president, to prepare us if it ever happens.— Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, commenting on the potential exclusion from AGOA and the need to prepare for it.
Ramaphosa warns South Africa to prepare for loss of US-Africa trade deal: Cyril Ramaphosa told the media that strained ties between the US and SA could see the ...
iol.co.za/business/2026-10-20-ramaphosa-warns-south-africa-to-prepare-for-loss-of-us-africa-trade-deal/
Key FactsRamaphosa Warns of Possible US Trade-Benefit Loss
4 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: iol.co.za
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: iol.co.za
- Ramaphosa said South Africa should prepare for possible removal from AGOA, Washington’s duty-free trade programme for Africa.
- The US Congress has extended AGOA through the end of 2028, but President Donald Trump’s signature remains pending.
- Any exclusion requires 60 days’ notice; to take effect January 1, it must be announced by November 2.
- According to Naamsa, 86,000 jobs at car manufacturers were directly tied to the agreement in 2025, rising to 125,000 including subcontractors.
"I need as president to prepare us if it ever happens. So we should not go out and jump off tall buildings and think that this is the end of the world," he said, conceding that the impacts would be "devastating".— Cyril Ramaphosa, speaking during a briefing in response to a question from an AFP journalist
Ramaphosa warns further fuel relief could affect other government programmes: President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government is weighing further interventions to ...
iol.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-10-19-ramaphosa-warns-further-fuel-relief-could-affect-other-government-programmes/
Key FactsRamaphosa weighs further relief as fuel prices rise
5 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: iol.co.za
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: iol.co.za
- On 19 October, Ramaphosa said the government was considering further measures as rising prices affected countries worldwide.
- He warned that additional support could divert funds from other government programmes and spending priorities.
- During earlier price increases, the government spent about R24 billion on subsidies, according to Ramaphosa.
- Following 7 October increases, inland 95-octane petrol costs R30.25 and 93-octane petrol R29.88 per litre.
Now that is R24 billion that we are removing from other programmes.— Ramaphosa said this while speaking to journalists at the Bana Pele ECD Summit in Sandton.
South Africa: Ramaphosa warns of devastating impact if US trade deal is lost | Africanews
africanews.com/2026/10/20/south-africa-ramaphosa-warns-of-devastating-impact-if-us-trade-deal-is-lost/
EWN Oct 18
ANC’s Ramaphosa on the ground in Cape Town hoping to impress voters: In Mfuleni, Ramaphosa is being greeted by throngs of excited young children as he campaigns ...
ewn.co.za/2026/10/18/anc-s-ramaphosa-on-the-ground-in-cape-town-hoping-to-impress-voters
Key FactsANC President Ramaphosa campaigns in Cape Town before local elections
6 days ago · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: ewn.co.za
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: ewn.co.za
- ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa was in Cape Town this weekend, two weeks before the local government elections.
- In Mfuleni, excited children greeted him while adults raised concerns about jobs, electricity prices and inadequate basic services.
- A resident of the Covid informal settlement said she was unhappy and would not vote.
- In Athlone, Ramaphosa urged the Muslim community to participate in democracy by casting their ballots.
Water, electricity, also the houses that we live [in], is not in a good condition— Mihle Mthetho, a resident of the nearby Covid informal settlement in Mfuleni (which sprung up during the pandemic), said she was unhappy and would not be voting, during Ramaphosa's door-to-door campaign in Cape Town.
‘No community can stand aside,’ Ramaphosa says as he courts Muslim voters in Cape Town
news24.com/politics/no-community-can-stand-aside-ramaphosa-says-as-he-courts-muslim-voters-in-cape-town-20261017-0978
South African president reinstates suspended police chief: South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday he was reinstating the country's police chief ...
reuters.com/world/africa/south-african-president-reinstates-suspended-police-chief-2026-10-16/
Ramaphosa congratulates Rwanda for bringing F1 back to Africa: President to meet Formula One officials as government seeks financial guarantees for race bid
timeslive.co.za/sport/2026-10-15-ramaphosa-congratulates-rwanda-for-bringing-f1-back-to-africa/
PETER BRUCE | There’s one war Trump has won: The global surge of the right leaves South African liberals searching for answers, writes Peter Bruce.
sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/opinion-and-analysis/2026-10-10-peter-bruce-theres-one-war-trump-has-won/
ITSHOKENG KEKANA | When Washington calls for Mbeki during Ramaphosa’s tenure: US impatience with SA puts institutional authority and sovereignty in focus ...
ebx.sh/egM5E3
‘Respect our sovereignty’ — SA responds to new US sanctions: Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola rejects US travel bans tied to a Trump-era order ...
dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-09-16-respect-our-sovereignty-sa-responds-to-latest-us-sanctions/
ANC declines meetings with Bozell until Ramaphosa officially accepts his credentials
sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/politics/2026-03-20-anc-declines-meetings-with-bozell-until-ramaphosa-officially-accepts-his-credentials/
Key FactsANC Rejects US Ambassador Without Presidential Approval
Mar 20, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za
- The ANC does not recognize Leo Brent Bozell as the US ambassador until President Ramaphosa officially accepts his credentials.
- Although Bozell has held several meetings, the ANC considers him illegitimate without the head of state's formal acceptance.
- Bozell currently holds limited immunity that will only upgrade to full diplomatic status after presenting credentials to Ramaphosa.
- The ANC is organizing a Human Rights Day march to defend South Africa’s sovereignty against external political pressures.
No. He is an ambassador-designate until he presents his credentials to the president. Only then he becomes the ambassador of the US to South Africa.— Nomvula Mokonyane, ANC deputy secretary-general, on the status of the US ambassador-designate
businesstech.co.za Dec 09 25
Ramaphosa doubles down on his warning to one group of people in South Africa: President Cyril Ramaphosa has doubled down on his warning to people in South Africa ...
businesstech.co.za/news/government/845855/ramaphosa-doubles-down-on-his-warning-to-one-group-of-people-in-south-africa/
Key FactsRamaphosa Condemns Dangerous Falsehoods on Persecution
Dec 9, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: iol.co.za
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: iol.co.za
- President Ramaphosa views claims of white Afrikaner persecution as a direct threat to South Africa’s unity and sovereignty.
- Both domestic factions and foreign actors spread misleading narratives to preserve racial privileges and gain political leverage.
- These accusations have heightened diplomatic tensions, notably with the United States, affecting South Africa’s role in international forums.
- Ramaphosa calls for honest dialogue and broad social efforts to advance non-racialism, reconciliation, and transformation.
The propagation of these false claims has real implications for our sovereignty, international relations and national security.— Cyril Ramaphosa warns against the dangers of false claims that threaten national stability.
False claims Afrikaners are persecuted threaten South Africa’s sovereignty, says president
theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/08/white-supremacist-notions-threaten-sovereignty-of-south-africa-ramaphosa
South Africa will defend sovereignty, ANC chair says amid US tensions: The ANC chair's comments come after months of US tension over race relations and land law.
bbc.com/news/articles/c5ylem5j081o
Next