Ramaphosa mulls over crackdown on ‘unpatriotic’ lobbying

President Cyril Ramaphosa has not ruled out the possibility of government taking action against groups lobbying for the United States to act against what they describe as South Africa’s racial laws.

Organisations such as AfriForum and Solidarity have been actively campaigning for the Trump administration to take punitive measures against the South African government.

This is over policies such as the Expropriation Act and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment.

Speaking on the sidelines of the African National Congress (ANC) birthday celebrations in the North West on Wednesday, Ramaphosa stressed that government is fully aware of what some describe as potentially treasonous activities.

Afriforum and Solidarity previously sent a delegation to Washington to engage senior White House officials over what they describe as racial tensions in South Africa.

Among their demands is a call for the Trump administration to review the 2024 Expropriation Act, which they believe discriminates against Afrikaner people.

However, some have labelled AfriForum and Solidarity’s actions as treasonous, arguing that the lobbying may have contributed to the Trump administration’s aggression towards Pretoria.

Ramaphosa said the government will not take premature action against the organisations.

"We continue to examine all matters very carefully and with due diligence and due process. We are not a type of government that acts outside due process. We act in terms of what the law process requires. So all those matters will be addressed," said Ramaphosa.

Meanwhile, the relationship between Pretoria and Washington remains in the red zone.