By Johnathan Paoli
Solidarity has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce tangible steps to restore South Africa’s strained diplomatic relationship with the United States, warning that failure to do so could derail economic recovery efforts and investment prospects.
Solidarity CEO Dirk Hermann insists that South Africa must abandon what it describes as “ANC ideological games” and instead embrace pragmatic reforms that will appeal to international investors and allies, particularly the US.
“Ordinary working people want to see economic growth, job security and job creation. We call on President Ramaphosa to act as a statesman and place the country above ANC ideology,” Hermann said.
Solidarity, together with AfriForum under the larger Solidarity Movement banner, undertook a controversial diplomatic tour of the US earlier this year, during which they handed over a detailed “Washington Memorandum” to officials from US President Donald Trump’s administration.
The document outlines their recommendations to address what they term the marginalisation of Afrikaners in South Africa and appeals for humanitarian assistance and international pressure on the South African government.
The memorandum, submitted in February 2025, urges the US to assist with funding for Afrikaner community development and calls for policy pressure on issues such as land expropriation, employment equity laws and violent crime, particularly farm attacks.
Solidarity’s latest statement reiterates many of those points, outlining five key expectations from the South African government.
The labour union proposes a new trade agreement that includes favourable tariffs to boost economic ties, and calls for the phasing out of racial laws, including exemptions for international companies from Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) requirements.
It calls for the securing and protection of property rights, reversing aspects of the Expropriation Act and prioritising crime prevention, especially by declaring farm attacks a national priority and forming a specialist investigative unit.
Lastly, Solidarity insists on a truly non-aligned foreign policy, by distancing the country from anti-Western stances and focusing on diplomatic neutrality.
“We are convinced that these points can lead to a restoration of relations between the South African government and the US. This can protect jobs in South Africa and stimulate billions of rands in new investments, which will lead to growth and job creation.
“However, no economic agreement will be possible without first reaching a political agreement with the Trump administration,” Hermann said on Wednesday.
In recent months, US-South Africa relations have soured, with Trump halted foreign aid to South Africa earlier this year, citing “systemic human rights concerns”, while former south African and prominent businessman Elon Musk has amplified claims of anti-white discrimination.
Against this backdrop, Solidarity argues that restoring diplomatic goodwill is not only in South Africa’s national interest but a necessity for economic revival.
AfriForum, for its part, has been lobbying internationally for over a decade, focusing on farm murders, alleged cultural marginalisation and what it views as racially discriminatory laws.
Its US tours have included meetings with congressional representatives and opinion leaders sympathetic to its cause.
Despite the polarising nature of the Solidarity Movement’s advocacy, the organisation maintains it is acting in the interest of its members and broader economic stability.
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