South Africa will defend sovereignty, ANC chair says amid US tensions

Amid rising tensions with the US over race relations and a new land expropriation law, ANC National Chair Gwede Mantashe emphasized South Africa’s sovereignty, stating, “We’re not a province of the United States.” The law allows for land seizure without compensation under specific conditions, which has drawn criticism from US President Trump, who labeled it discriminatory against Afrikaners. In response to ongoing diplomatic strains, South Africa appointed Mcebisi Jonas as a special envoy to advance bilateral relations, following the expulsion of its ambassador from Washington.