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Kenyan workers check clothes made for export at the United Aryan Export Processing Zone (EPZ) factory, operating under the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), in Ruaraka district of Nairobi, Kenya October 26, 2023.
Four Republican Members of Congress have written a letter to US President Donald Trump arguing for South Africa’s exclusion from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
In the letter seen by SABC News dated February 11, the four representatives argue that South Africa was in need of a reminder of what happens when American interests were marginalised, accusing the country of human rights abuses, a vendetta against the State of Israel and of embracing the Chinese Communist Party.
Congressmen Andrew Ogles, Tom Tiffany, Joe Wilson and Don Bacon also suggest that President Trump suspend diplomatic ties unless the SA Government is prepared to engage constructively with the United States.
Here’s another letter sent by 4 Republican members of Congress to President Trump urging SA’s exclusion from AGOA, saying “the Republic of South Africa is in apparent need of a reminder of what happens when American interests are marginalised.”
It further alleges SA Govt has… pic.twitter.com/yAwcxkyt42
— Sherwin Bryce-Pease (@sherwiebp) February 18, 2025
The letter says Americans are now thrilled to have a President willing to punish the country’s adversaries and promote the national interest. The letter refers to an ethnonationalist gangster regime in Pretoria, accusing the government of attempting, without providing evidence, to expropriate land from “native South Africans” without compensation.
It accuses South Africa of failing to demonstrate consistent fidelity to the rule of law, arguing that these alleged violations would make South Africa ineligible for preferred benefits within AGOA.
The letter cites significant human rights abuses including unlawful and arbitrary killings, arbitrary arrests or detention, serious government corruption, trafficking in persons and extensive gender-based violence including femicide.
Arguing that SA undermines American security and foreign policy interests, it says the country is simply not deserving of duty-free access to the American market.
