Let’s correct US misunderstandings on SA’s policies – Pandor

Naledi Pandor

Cape Town – Former Minister of International Relations, Dr Naledi Pandor, has expressed disappointment over increasing criticism against South Africa, particularly from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who announced he would skip the G20 meeting in Johannesburg.

Rubio cited South Africa’s land expropriation law and policies as reasons for his absence, calling them anti-American.

“I will NOT attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg.

“South Africa is doing very bad things. Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote “solidarity, equality, & sustainability.” In other words: DEI and climate change.

“My job is to advance America’s national interests, not waste taxpayer money or coddle anti-Americanism,” he wrote on X.

Speaking durin an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Pandor urged South Africa to intensify diplomatic efforts to repair relations with the US, leveraging influential allies in Washington to clarify the country’s stance on key transformation issues.

“I think it’s extremely disappointing and of cencern. I hope that our minister of international relations is speaking to Secretary Rubio, broadly the State Department, senior officials through the director general of our department in South Africa, really to engage and to inform,” Pandor said.

“I believe there is a lot of wrong perception about our country. We have been and are a good partner to the United States of America and we need to provide information as to the factual position on all the matters that have been raised thus far – many of which I think have really been misconstrued.”

She added: “So a great deal of diplomatic effort is needed on our part. And we do have friends by the way, in the United Satets of America in both houses. We need to use them. We have friends in civil society, we have chambers of business that have focussed on investing in South Africa… We need to convene tham, speak on these issues clearly, get communication out there. I don’t think we should let things to bubble and develop false feet. I really believe a great deal of diplomatic effort should get underway, and I’m sure it already is.’

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