WATCH: SA should know what leverage it has on the US and act on it, Rasool says

Former SA ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool says South Africa should know what leverage it has on the US, act on it, and stay out of unnecessary discussions with America.

In April Trump slapped a universal 10% baseline tariff on all imports into the US and additional reciprocal tariffs for several countries, including 30% for South Africa.

“They have got some bad things going on in South Africa. You know, we are paying them billions of dollars, and we cut the funding because a lot of bad things are happening in South Africa. They don’t want to report it,” Trump said.

Trump tariffs

However, Trump later announced that all tariffs on Washington’s “worst offenders” list would be walked back to the standard 10% rate applied globally – except for China.

By strategically pivoting inward to further leverage its domestic market, vigorously supporting technological advancement, diligently managing its intricate financial system and proactively diversifying its global economic engagements, China demonstrably adapted and reinforced its long-term economic trajectory in a complex global environment, defying Trump.

WATCH Ebrahim Rasool speaking about leverage

Former Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool says South Africa should know its leverage with the U.S., act on it, and stay out of unnecessary discussions with America. Rasool adds that the country should also review whether the 49 Afrikaners should keep their… pic.twitter.com/rPPe6Nw41C

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) May 27, 2025

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China approach

Rasool said South Africa should take the “Chinese approach” and know what leverage it can use against the US.

“We should take the Chinese approach, know what our leverage is. In this case, the president was very aware that critical minerals would be our leverage, the thriving 600 US companies in South Africa is our leverage, the 20 South African companies that employ US citizens in the United States can be our leverage.

“China has taught us to know your leverage, act on the leverage and then absorb the punishment and stay out of unnecessary discussions with the United States,” Rasool said.

Rasool added that the country should also review whether the 59 Afrikaners who have gone to to the US as refugees should keep their citizenship.

“If Afrikaners insist on making a false defamatory case against South Africa, if they accept US citizenship, we should have a serious debate about what is the status of those who accepted that.

“Do they have the right of return, even to visit their family here, and do they have the right to dual citizenship.”

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Afrikaner refugees

The 59 Afrikaners granted refugee status by Trump departed from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg earlier this month on a private charter flight for the United States.

Some in the group, which included young children, appeared to be in a jovial mood, while others were reserved as they headed for their new home.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said at the time the Afrikaners who had flown to the US as “refugees” had committed a “cowardly act” and were clearly unhappy with efforts to redress the inequities of the apartheid past.

“It’s a sad moment for them. They may be feeling excited that they left the country, that they’ve got somebody like President (Donald) Trump,” Ramaphosa said at an impromptu press briefing at the annual Nampo harvest festival near the Free State town of Bothaville.

Ramaphosa ambush

Last week, with a line of reporters in the room, Trump ambushed Ramaphosa by playing a video of EFF leader Julius Malema – startling those present with footage he believed supported his claims of an alleged white genocide against farmers.

Despite the unsubstantiated claims made by Trump about genocide in South Africa, Ramaphosa said the meeting with Trump was fruitful.

After his private lunch meeting with Trump, Ramaphosa told the media there was “doubt in Trump’s head about genocide in SA”.

Rasool returned to South Africa in March after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expelled him and stripped him of his diplomatic privileges.

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