PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa’s comments that the United States terror alert was ‘unfortunate’ is not a sign of a weak leader being bullied by the Americans, but rather a well-considered diplomatic language in the face of growing domestic pressure, Internationa Relations analyst Professor John Streamlau told Inside Politics on Thurday.
Last week, Ramaphosa told the media that it was unfortunate that the US government issued a terror alert without discussing it with the South African government.
In an interview with Inside Politics, Stremlau said: “Both Ramaphosa and US President Joe Biden are trying to reassure critics domestically that they are doing all they can to protect their citizens in an era of terrorism, while trying to advance their nation’s interests in an increasingly diverse and volatile world.”
“These two leaders apparently had good meeting in Washington in September. They both have an interest in maintaining relations that benefit both, while still disagreeing over big issues like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or relatively minor issues like terror alerts or allowing a US sanctioned Russian oligarch to dock his super-yacht in Cape Town harbor to undermine a host of other economic, public health and other programs of great value to both countries.”
In the meantime, Chairperson of Parliament’s International Relations and Co-operation Committee, Supra Mahumapelo, said Ramaphosa’s response to the recent US terror alert of a possible attack in Sandton was “too soft” and not “convincing”.
Mahumapelo said the President should have been more firm on the issue.
His comments were shared by many South Africans who believe the US should have used diplomatic channels.
“The South African government has noted the terror alert issued by the US Embassy on its website. This is part of the US government’s standard communication to its citizens.”
“It is the responsibility of the South African security forces to ensure that all people within our country feel safe,” Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said last week.
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