from DION HENRICK in Cape Town
Western Cape Bureau
CAPE TOWN, (CAJ News) – SOUTH African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has fired a broadside at the United States, maintaining his country would not be bullied, amid the fallout between the two countries.
He was delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament in Cape Town on Thursday evening.
While he did not mention the United States, his delivery left little to the imagination. His message was aimed at the government of President Donald Trump.
“We are clear that we will continue to respect the rights and sovereignty of other nations, but we must be equally clear that we will not be bullied by any other country,” Ramaphosa said.
The speech drew cheers from across the political divide in Parliament.
“In a world where powerful nations often assert their dominance and influence over less powerful states, our country’s commitment to sovereignty and self-determination is sacrosanct. It is not negotiable,” Ramaphosa continued.
“We will stand firm on our sovereignty and promote our national interests, values and the rights of our people. We will forge strong partnerships with like-minded countries to increase our shared resilience to global disruptions.”
Relations between South Africa and the United States have been strained for a year now, heightening after Trump re-assumed office in January 2025.
The rift is driven by the America’s administration’s criticisms of South Africa.
Trump has accused South Africa of “white genocide” over land reform plans. He has excluded South Africa from the G20 Summit the United States is hosting at the end of 2026.
Critics however maintain the American government is targeting South Africa for its alignment with China and Russia (fellow members of the Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa-BRICS) and the Gaza genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
– CAJ News