By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider

The African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula addressed the media yesterday over the outcomes of the ANC-NEC meeting. Mbalula has mentioned that the Government of National Unity (GNU) must stand firm against the amount of push back South Africa is receiving from the United States.

Last month the United States government moved to have a bill passed which aims to review their standing relationship with South Africa over disagreements on foreign policy and have intended on imposing sanctions against South African government officials, specifically within the ANC.

The bill would need to go through the White House and Senate before it can actually come to pass. This conference also comes at a time where the government is attempting to secure a rational trade deal with the US before United States President Donald Trump imposes the 30% tariff increase on South African exports.

Mbalula has said that the ANC will not be “coerced” into reversing progressive transformative laws, as he spoke of the outcomes of the National Executive Committee meeting that was held over the weekend.

“We will never back imperialists to subvert our democracy, to subvert our sovereignty. It happened during the period of struggle, it will happen even now. We will never forsake our country which we fought for its liberation. Not this ANC. Not this leadership.” said Mbalula in his address.

 “If they want to bring sanctions on us, let them bring them. But this country, all of its citizens, know this is a democratic country, it’s a liberated country and we are still transforming this country in order to achieve equity.” Mbalula added.

“We will still pursue redress because we are not equal in this economy. The economy is still male, white dominated.” said Mbalula.

 Mbalula also expressed that South Africa cannot afford to change their values in order to appease the United States and reaffirmed that transformative laws are important in establishing equal footing amongst every citizen in South Africa.

 “That’s what the US wants from us, that we must do away with certain policies, that for us, in terms of transformation is not possible.”

 Relations between South Africa and the United States it the lowest its ever been since South Africa coming into democracy, as the cracks began to really show ever since the “white genocide” claims earlier in the year. These claims are the reason that Donald Trump is moving to impose sanctions on South Africa, as a form of “punishment”.