ANC rejects US criticism of South Africa’s transformation laws

The African National Congress has rejected the United States’ characterisation of South Africa’s transformation laws as hostility towards Afrikaners and other minority groups.

The party was responding to tighter US visa restrictions announced this week in connection with South African transformation policies.

The ANC said it regretted that relations between the two countries were increasingly being shaped by disagreements and punitive measures. That is the governing party’s position; it does not represent an independent finding about the intent or effect of either country’s policies.

Party calls for dialogue

The ANC said South Africa’s Constitution and laws were determined through democratic institutions and reflected the country’s history of resistance to racism and apartheid.

It acknowledged that the United States had the sovereign right to determine its visa and immigration rules, while asserting South Africa’s own constitutional sovereignty.

The party said it remained committed to constructive relations with Washington based on dialogue and mutual respect.

International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola is in the United States for engagements aimed at improving strained diplomatic relations. The new restrictions have also prompted questions in Parliament about their possible effect on South African public representatives.

The United States and South Africa have disagreed on transformation policy and several foreign-policy issues. No bilateral resolution to the latest visa dispute had been announced at the time of publication.