The United States government has outlined a set of preconditions that it wants met before fully normalising bilateral relations with South Africa.
These demands were communicated to a visiting delegation of Afrikaner leaders during a high-level meeting with senior White House officials.
Improving relations
The delegation, made up of Freedom Front Plus leader Dr Corné Mulder, Southern African Agri Initiative chairman Dr Theo de Jager, and National Employers’ Association of South Africa CEO Gerhard Papenfus, met with representatives from the Office of the US Vice President, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council.
During the meeting, US officials emphasised that improving relations will depend on South Africa addressing four key issues:
1. Farm attacks to be prioritised
The US wants the South African government to officially classify farm attacks as a priority crime, on par with crimes like rhino poaching and cash-in-transit heists.
They said that each incident should be handled by elite investigative units such as the Hawks, and warned that the current lack of urgency sends the wrong message about rural safety and human rights.
2. Condemnation of ‘Kill the Boer’
American officials called for a clear, public condemnation by the ANC of the chant “Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer,” which they described as inciting violence, regardless of whether it is expressed in song or speech.
The US stressed the importance of promoting inclusive rhetoric to foster social cohesion.
3. Fair compensation for land expropriation
The US reaffirmed its stance that land expropriation must include fair market compensation and follow full legal processes.
Officials noted concern about property rights and investor confidence, saying that land reform must be conducted in a transparent, lawful, and non-discriminatory manner.
4. Exemption from BEE requirements
Another demand is that US companies be exempt from Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policies that impose race-based requirements.
According to the officials, BEE regulations function as non-tariff trade barriers and should not be imposed on American entities doing business in South Africa.
Delegation reaction
Following the meeting, the Afrikaner delegation expressed their support for improved US-South Africa relations and committed to conveying the US administration’s expectations to both the South African public and government.
They said that these preconditions had been raised with South African authorities multiple times before but had not yet been adequately addressed.
Context and implications
This development comes at a sensitive time for South Africa’s foreign relations, particularly in light of ongoing criticism regarding rural safety, land reform, and the country’s affirmative action policies.
The White House’s strong messaging suggests that unless these concerns are resolved, bilateral cooperation – especially in trade, investment, and diplomatic areas – may remain strained.
Analysts suggest this may also affect South Africa’s standing in US-Africa trade programmes and its broader geopolitical positioning, particularly as the global focus shifts toward more rights-based and investor-friendly governance models.
What’s next?
The South African government is expected to respond to these concerns in the coming weeks.
Whether it engages with these demands could determine the future strength of US-South African ties – and how both countries navigate mutual economic and political interests going forward.
Do you think those four requirements are fair?
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