Staff Reports
The picture of a spring day on the White House lawn is a classic one: smiles, handshakes, and the sweet sounds of national anthems performed by a talented South African soprano. Picture it now, as two presidents—the American titan Donald Trump and South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa—stand poised to sign a groundbreaking bilateral treaty that aligns closely with Trump’s vision. If only the South African government could get out of its own way.
This newly minted agreement has South Africa all but rolling over, finally agreeing to repeal the Expropriation Act, which has balked at any sensible trade negotiations. It also introduces “Freedom Zones” near Cape Town and Johannesburg, ready to open the floodgates for foreign investment while mercifully slashing through their oppressive labor laws and the politically charged “Black Economic Empowerment” regulations. It’s about time South Africa realizes that throwing money at cronies is not the recipe for prosperity.
Now, while South African elites get their ducks in a row with a year-long “let’s-repatriate-ill-gotten-gains” amnesty, the U.S. is playing hardball by committing to monitor and safeguard the safety of farmers and women. That’s right, they’ll need an annual report card on how well they’re treating these critical segments of the population. The agreement even envisions South Africa cutting ties with its military buddies in China and Russia, an olive branch to the U.S. that should evoke a sigh of relief from any self-respecting American.
Blue State Blues: Free Advice to the South African Government on Dealing with Trump https://t.co/VXByGBm8ID via @BreitbartNews
— Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) February 14, 2025
But this isn’t just about South Africa getting what it wants—oh no, the U.S. is putting its money where its mouth is, offering to renew the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act and position South Africa to nab the next Olympic Games. That’s a handsome offer of investment and infrastructure development that would put a lot of South African lives on a better trajectory, provided their leaders come to the table with humility instead of hubris.
However, one can only hope South Africa realizes that sending delegation after delegation only adds to its embarrassment. With Trump summarily dismissing any engagement with officials who have a history of disdain for him, the South Africans need to figure out that treating Trump and the Republicans with contempt doesn’t pave the way to fruitful negotiations. Mutual respect would go a long way, particularly when Their Excellencies had claimed Trump was spinning tales and were baffled by the ‘sudden shift’ of the Republican Party. Here’s a hot tip: maybe they should try listening instead of labeling.
And let’s not forget what really counts—South Africa’s vast wealth isn’t just rooted in its minerals. Trump is making it clear that the true treasure lies in its people. Basking in mineral riches won’t cut it in a world where talent and innovation are the ultimate commodities. If South Africa is committed to making life better for its citizens rather than feeding greed and corruption, it can rise stronger than ever on the world stage. It’s time for the South African elite to throw out the old playbook and rewrite the narrative, in a way that aligns with the interests of both their own citizens and the U.S. at large. After all, being stuck in the past never won anyone a handshake at the White House.
