The Economic Freedom Fighters has denounced the involvement of billionaire businessman Johann Rupert in bilateral discussions between the United States and South Africa.
They charge that his inclusion in the diplomatic delegation “is a spit in the face of our democracy”.
In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, the Red Berets said Rupert’s involvement is an exhibition of the undue influence of big business on interactions between the two nations.
EFF says Rupert is opposed to expropriation
“Rupert, a hard-nosed Afrikaner, has always been opposed to land expropriation without compensation, and his role in this visit will be to assure [US president Donald] Trump that not only is this not occurring in South Africa, but never will.
“Rupert is leading this charge as a major beneficiary of unequal land and economic relations in South Africa,” the statement reads.
President Cyril Ramaphosa and his US counterpart meet on Wednesday in Washington, DC. On the agenda is the strained trade relations between the two nations and possibly the false Afrikaner-genocide narrative.
Afrikaner genocide narrative consequences
The white genocide complaints led to Trump inviting Afrikaners to apply for asylum in the Land of the Free. The first batch of disgruntled Afrikaners left South Africa last Monday after taking up the offer.
It is also expected that Ramaphosa will meet tech billionaire Elon Musk for further talks about launching the Starlink internet service in South Africa. According to Bloomberg, Ramaphosa is likely to offer a deal to Musk. This includes possibly allowing Starline to bypass Black Economic Empowerment regulations to operate in South Africa.
Ramaphosa arrived in the US for a working visit on Monday. He was accompanied by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, agriculture minister John Steenhuisen, Special Envoy to the United States of America Mcebisi Jonas as well as trade, industry and competition minister Parks Tau.
Ramaphosa has no mandate to offer sweeteners
The EFF has warned against the reversal of any legislation opposed to by Afrikaners in the past few months. The minority group is against legislation aimed at redressing inequalities, including the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act and Expropriation Act.
“The EFF reiterates that Ramaphosa and Rupert carry no mandate or legislative power to make any assurances around the reversal of South Africa’s legislation that was adopted through Parliament. This includes having no mandate to circumvent regulatory legislation that compels Elon Musk’s Starlink to abide by local ownership prescripts in order to be granted licensing rights to operate in South Africa,” reads the statement.
Other than Rupert, professional golfers Retief Goosen and Ernie Els will be part of the delegation. While the Congress of SA Trade Unions president Zingisa Losi and Business Unity South Africa deputy president Adrian Gore are expected to provide additional support.
