The United States has one new demand for South Africa

The United States would be more inclined to restore its trade relations with South Africa if the ANC cuts its close ties with Iran.

This is a new demand from Washington, joining three other previous requests, including ending Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and Expropriation without Compensation policies.

This is according to FF+ leader Dr Corné Mulder, SAAI executive director Dr Theo de Jager, and NEASA CEO Gerhard Papenfus.

The three businessmen spoke at the 9th BizNews conference taking place in the Drakensberg, where they shared their views on how to improve South Africa’s relations with the United States.

Mulder, De Jager, and Papenfus formed part of a high-profile, independent South African delegation that visited Washington in mid-2025.

At the time, the United States’ diplomatic relations with South Africa were fraying, culminating in US President Donald Trump’s so-called ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs in April 2025.

On 2 April 2025, Trump announced that the United States would be imposing import tariffs on nearly all countries worldwide, with additional tariffs for the “worst offenders”.

This included South Africa, with the United States citing its strained diplomatic ties and trade deficit metrics with the country.

Since then, and despite these Liberation Day tariffs being declared invalid, US-South African relations have continued to worsen.

Mulder, De Jager, and Papenfus explained that the United States wanted to “teach South Africa a lesson” through these tariffs.

They said it was very difficult to engage with the US, with engagements being a long process that relates to uncomfortable topics.

Despite this, when Mulder, De Jager, and Papenfus met with Washington, they found that the United States was willing to improve its relations with South Africa.

However, this improvement will depend on the following four conditions:

• The ANC must distance itself from the ‘Kill the Boer’ song
• Farm killings must be declared a priority crime
• American investors should be exempted from BEE and transformation requirements
• The government must end Expropriation without Compensation 

Now, Mulder, De Jager, and Papenfus said that Washington has a new demand: it would also like to see the ANC end its close relations with Iran.

Improving relations with Washington

Mulder, De Jager, and Papenfus said the United States’ demands are not intended to punish South Africa.

They explained that, from the US’s point of view, “You want all our investments in South Africa, but you are friends with all of our enemies.”

Despite this, they said the ANC has been unwilling to address these demands, which has not helped South Africa’s relationship with the US.

“The opportunities are unlimited in terms of what could positively change for South Africa if we have the political gravitas to take these things on board and just do it,” they said.

“I’m very optimistic about South Africa. I’m extremely optimistic about the economy and everything that can be done. But there is this political obstacle.”

Without the political will to engage with Washington’s demand, particularly from the ANC, they said South Africa’s relations with the US are unlikely to improve.

Mulder said that, at this stage, it appears as though he, Papenfus, and De Jager have better access to the White House and the Trump administration than the official South African government.

He argued that, as long as the ANC dominates discussions about South Africa’s international relations, the Americans are unlikely to take attempts at engagement seriously.

“When Trump came into power, things changed, and they adopted a particular approach towards South Africa, and we couldn’t ignore it,” De Jager said.

“We had to respond to that. But that process is continuing. This is a continuous process, but it’s complicated.”

He argued that, currently, South Africa’s international relations policy is driven by ideology, rather than the best interests of the country and its citizens.

“The ANC is not rational. They have never been rational. They are bound by loyalties from the struggle days,” Papenfus said.