By Simon Nare
The EFF has called for the National Assembly to not only debate US President Donald Trump’s decision to stop aid to South Africa, but also formulate a clear and decisive response.
The call comes after Speaker Thoko Didiza granted the party’s request for an urgent debate on Trump’s decision to halt financial aid to the country over the signing of the Expropriation Bill into law. It allows the government to expropriate land for public use or public interest.
Trump has criticised this move, saying it was aimed at expropriating private land of minority groups and went further to issue an Executive Order to resettle Afrikaners who he believed were being targeted.
Parliament will now debate the matter, with the EFF saying it stands resolute to defend South Africa’s sovereignty and will ensure the debate leads to concrete actions that protect the nation’s interests.
“We reaffirm our call for Parliament to not only debate but formulate a clear and decisive response to this blatant act of economic and diplomatic aggression.
“This decision by the USA is an imperialist attempt to punish South Africa for asserting its independence and standing against global injustices,” said the red berets.
It called on all progressive forces within Parliament to stand in unity against what it described as neocolonial bullying, vowing that the fight for economic freedom, sovereignty and justice was non-negotiable.
The party said the timing of the announcement following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s state visit to the US and the influence of South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, a close Trump ally, raised concerns about external forces seeking to undermine the country’s position on the world stage.
The party said the withdrawal of financial assistance to fund HIV/Aids programmes and at the same time offering Afrikaners refugee status on false accusations of land grabs and white genocide was not an isolated decision, but rather a calculated act of political coercion.
“The move comes in direct retaliation to South Africa’s stance on land expropriation and the case we have brought before the International Court of Justice against Israel for the genocide of Palestinians being wrought in Gaza and Rafah,” it said.
The EFF described the financial aid withdrawal as reckless and inhumane, saying beyond its geopolitical implications, it threatened the lives of South Africans who depended on these crucial health programmes.
It said USAID funding has played a critical role in providing life-saving antiretroviral treatment, prevention services and community-based health support for vulnerable citizens.
“The immediate concern must be to ensure that through self-reliant efforts, no person is left without access to treatment, as this could lead to severe health crises, increased mortality rates and a resurgence of HIV-related illnesses in our communities,” it said.
INSIDE POLITICS
