By Akani Nkuna
African National Congress secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has hailed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent engagement with the US president Donald Trump as a success and praised him for his keeping his cool.
Mbalula said Ramaphosa maintained a clear focus and composed demeanor throughout his engagement with Trump, who continuously made false claims of white genocide during a public engagement in the White House.
“I think we may want to characterise yesterday as mission accomplished, because many things have been said about South Africa. It took the head of state to go to the White House to sit down with President Donald Trump and put the record straight,” said Mbalula said on Thursday.
He said the talks would foster diplomacy and reduce the chances of the US making unfounded accusations against South Africa.
Both nations now shared clarity on the origins of false claims such as white genocide, Mbalula said.
“The plan was not really about going head to head with Trump about the falsified claims of genocide in SA, because it is falsified. [It] was to understand, which we now understand, what he is basing his falsification on,” said Mbalula.
He criticised Trump for being out of touch for South Africa’s reality, saying that he presented misleading images during his meeting with Ramaphosa that distorted the truth.
The Congress of Trade Unions has also welcomed Ramaphosa’s efforts to set the record straight on claims of a white genocide and targeted persecution of Afrikaans citizens and farmers.
Cosatu parliamentary coordinator Matthew Parks said that while South Africa faced serious socio-economic issues, the did not reflect the country’s reality.
“We are pleased that the delegation did not sugar-coat our painful levels of crime, including violent offences. This is a cancer that affects not only white farmers, but all South Africans, in particular African and coloured, and especially women.
“Our crime levels exist for many well-known reasons, including unemployment and poverty. Whilst it should not take turbulence in relations with the US to awaken society to this, we should nonetheless seize this opportunity to tackle a blight upon the nation,” he said in a statement.
Parks said recent tensions with the US should prompt urgent action against crime in South Africa. He stressed the need to empower law enforcement agencies and foster a zero-tolerance culture among citizens.
Parks also highlighted the importance of an inclusive, job-creating economy, supported by increased trade and investment from global partners including the US, EU, China and Japan.
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