ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has revealed details of a meeting between the ANC and the Afrikaner leadership network that took place last week as some Afrikaners were preparing to depart for the US.
Details of the meeting facilitated by the PAC have until now been kept quiet by those who attended, with only some details leaked to the media.
The Sunday Times reported this week that the meeting was chaired by PAC leader Mzwanele Nyhontso and attended by the ANC’s Nomvula Mokonyane, Lindiwe Sisulu and Bathabile Dlamini. Representing the Afrikaner bodies were:
- AfriForum’s Kallie Kriel;
- Dirk Hermann from Solidariteit; and
- Theuns Eloff and Theo de Jager from the Southern African Agricultural Initiative.
Responding to questions from TimesLIVE Premium on Tuesday, Mbalula said discussions with the Afrikaner leadership are ongoing. He said in the main, the discussions centred on the country's history and promoting dialogue.
The meeting was part of the ANC's work towards the much-anticipated national dialogue that would discuss difficult issues, he said.
There will be no "holy cows" in terms of issues to discuss, he said, referring to the national dialogue, and added the meeting reflected on patriotism, national debate and national consensus.
“[These matters] cut across race, and it’s important we look at situations in our country and how people can contribute in terms of their skills to build an economy that works and that is what is important to us.”
Mbalula said the discussions also reflected on the country's foreign policy
“Most of these things can be won at the table by just promoting a conversation. They [Afrikaner leadership network] have reservations about some of the laws [such as the Expropriation Act].
“We are committed fully to talking to everyone in South Africa and to showcase how some of their activities harm South African sovereignty and at the same time bring into question their own commitment to national consensus and patriotism,” he said.
Mbalula would not be drawn into who President Cyril Ramaphosa should appoint as the next ambassador to the US, but said anyone could fill Ibrahim Rasool's shoes.
Speculation has been rife that Ramaphosa would appoint an ANC member from the Afrikaans community to quell misinformation about the country's treatment of minority groups.
Rasool was kicked out of the US after he spoke out against the Trump MAGA campaign, claiming it was a white supremacist network.
“Rasool was capable as a person. Even though we felt [his dismissal] was too harsh, they are a sovereign state,” Mbalula said. He added he was confident Ramaphosa would appoint a suitable person to the role.
President Donald Trump will meet Ramaphosa next week.
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