ANC says not anti-America, but will not stand for bullying, disrespect of SA's sovereignty

JOHANNESBURG - The African National Congress (ANC) says it’s not anti-America, but draws the line on bullying and the disrespect of South Africa’s sovereignty.

This comes as the party throws support behind President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister Ronald Lamola handling of current frosty relations between the United States (US) and South Africa.

Speaking at the sidelines of the ANC’s national working committee (NWC) visit to the Free State on Monday, the first deputy secretary general, Nomvula Mokonyane, said there was no need to send a delegation to America yet.

She said there were several other channels to engage with the US.

Ebrahim Rasool, who previously served as SA’s ambassador to America between 2010 and 2015, has been once again deployed to Washington.

Mokonyane said the ANC can't be labelled as anti-America.

“What we are anti is bullying, what we are anti, is disrespect of sovereignty, what we are anti, is a situation where a minority believes they can create instability in this country by going and meet… we don’t even know who they met, even the DA [Democratic Alliance] has not told us who they met, they keep saying we met senior people. We have an ambassador who talks with the administration.”

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