8 February 2025
Blaai af vir Afrikaanse weergawe.
The Free Market Foundation (FMF) welcomes the executive order of 7 February 2025 by United States President Donald Trump “to address egregious actions on behalf of the Republic of South Africa.”
“The decision by the United States to halt state aid or assistance to South Africa is an entirely justified response from the Trump administration given the ongoing threat to private property rights in South Africa, the South African government’s hostile foreign policy posture towards the United States, and the continuation of race-based discrimination in domestic policy,” said David Ansara, Chief Executive Officer of the FMF.
Foremost amongst the Trump administration’s concerns is the recently signed Expropriation Act, which seeks to empower the state to confiscate property without compensation in direct contravention of the South African Constitution and international law.
“The Expropriation Act represents a grave threat to the private property rights of South Africans in general, and farmers in particular. This has not gone unnoticed in Washington DC and unless government acts accordingly by repealing this pernicious piece of legislation it will be ordinary South Africans who will have to pay the price,” Ansara said.
The FMF also agrees with President Trump that South Africa’s continued commitment to race-based laws has deepened institutionalised racial discrimination in the country. According to research conducted by the FMF and the Institute of Race Relations (IRR), South Africa currently has 142 race-based laws on the statute books. See https://racelaw.co.za/
Moreover, South Africa’s foreign policy posture, which starkly contradicts the values of the South African Constitution, is also in direct conflict with the interests of the United States. This has alienated South Africa’s allies in the West and undermined its global strategic and commercial interests.
“The South African government is entirely responsible for the breakdown in the relationship with United States. We cannot blame Donald Trump for our own failed policies,” Ansara said.
While undoubtedly damaging, this diplomatic crisis represents a unique opportunity to undo decades of failed race-based policies and socialist control over the economy.
The FMF demands that Parliament immediately table an Expropriation Repeal Act as a demonstration of its commitment to protect private property rights and its desire to restore relations with the United States. Completely new expropriation legislation is required for constitutional compliance.
Failure to undo the existing Act could result in further punitive actions against South Africa, including ejection from the US’ African Growth and Opportunity Act, the imposition of tariffs, or even sanctions.
The FMF avails itself to assist Parliament in speedily developing the necessary legislation.
“While damaging to South Africa’s short-term interests, Donald Trump’s intervention should be cheered by all patriotic South Africans who care about private property rights, the rule of law, and a free market economy,” Ansara concluded.
Ends.
***
Vryemarkstigting verwelkom Donald Trump se uitvoerende bevel
8 Februarie 2025
Scroll up for English version.
Die Vryemarkstigting (FMF) verwelkom die uitvoerende bevel van 7Februarie 2025 deur die Amerikaanse president, Donald Trump, “om gruwelike optrede namens die Republiek van Suid-Afrika aan te spreek.”
“Die besluit deur die Verenigde State om staatshulp of bystand aan Suid-Afrika te staak is ’n heeltemal geregverdigde reaksie van die Trump-administrasie gegewe die voortdurende bedreiging aan private eiendomsreg in Suid-Afrika, die Suid-Afrikaanse regering se vyandige buitelandse beleidshouding teenoor die Verenigde State, en die voortsetting van rasgebaseerde diskriminasie in binnelandse beleid,” sê David Ansara, Hoof Uitvoerende Beampte van die FMF.
Die belangrikste onder die Trump-administrasie se bekommernisse is die onlangs ondertekende Onteieningswet, wat poog om die staat te bemagtig om eiendom sonder vergoeding, in direkte oortreding van die Suid-Afrikaanse Grondwet en internasionale reg, te konfiskeer.
“Die Onteieningswet verteenwoordig ‘n ernstige bedreiging vir die private eiendomsreg van Suid-Afrikaners in die algemeen, en boere in die besonder. Dit het nie ongesiens verbygegaan in Washington DC nie en tensy die regering dienooreenkomstig optree deur hierdie verderflike stuk wetgewing te herroep, sal dit gewone Suid-Afrikaners wees wat die prys daarvoor moet betaal,” het Ansara gesê.
Die FMF stem ook saam met president Trump dat Suid-Afrika se volgehoue verbintenis tot rasgebaseerde wette geïnstitusionaliseerde rassediskriminasie in die land verdiep het. Volgens navorsing wat deur die FMF en die Instituut vir Rasseverhoudinge (IRR) gedoen is, het Suid-Afrika tans 142 rasgebaseerde wette op die wetboeke. Sien https://racelaw.co.za/
Boonop is Suid-Afrika se buitelandse beleidshouding, wat die waardes van die Suid-Afrikaanse Grondwet skerp weerspreek, ook in direkte botsing met die belange van die Verenigde State. Dit het Suid-Afrika se bondgenote in die Weste vervreem en sy globale strategiese en kommersiële belange ondermyn.
“Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering is geheel en al verantwoordelik vir die verbrokkeling in die verhouding met die Verenigde State. Ons kan nie Donald Trump blameer vir ons eie mislukte beleid nie,” het Ansara gesê.
Alhoewel dit ongetwyfeld skadelik is, verteenwoordig hierdie diplomatieke krisis ‘n unieke geleentheid om dekades van mislukte rasgebaseerde beleid en sosialistiese beheer oor die ekonomie ongedaan te maak.
Die FMF eis dat die Parlement onmiddellik ‘n herroeping van die Onteieningswet ter tafel lê as ‘n demonstrasie van sy verbintenis om private eiendomsreg te beskerm en sy begeerte om betrekkinge met die Verenigde State te herstel. Heeltemal nuwe onteieningswetgewing word vereis vir grondwetlike nakoming.
Versuim om die bestaande Wet ongedaan te maak kan lei tot verdere strafaksies teen Suid-Afrika, insluitend uitsetting van die VSA se AGOA-beleid, die oplegging van tariewe of selfs sanksies.
Die FMF stel homself beskikbaar om die Parlement by te staan om die nodige wetgewing vinnig te ontwikkel.
“Terwyl dit Suid-Afrika se korttermynbelange skade berokken, moet Donald Trump se ingryping toegejuig word deur alle patriotiese Suid-Afrikaners wat omgee vir private eiendomsreg, die oppergesag van die reg, en ‘n vryemarkekonomie,” het Ansara afgesluit.
Einde.
