The African National Congress (ANC) stated on Friday that it is unhelpful that political parties within the Government of National Unity (GNU) are engaged in a “relentless campaign” that appears to support punitive actions against South Africa.

The party condemned what it termed Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on International Relations & Cooperation Emma Louise Powell’s apparent efforts to undermine the South African government’s response that seeks to roll back the US’s new tariff regime.

Powell came under fire following a news article that accused her of spreading disinformation about South Africa during a trip to the US, amid the already strained relationship between both countries.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said this was a “complex and sensitive process”, and accused “non-State actors”, such as Powell, of engaging the US government and Congress to “perpetuate negative perceptions” of South Africa.

“These engagements have contributed to the spread of false narratives, including fabricated claims of a so-called ‘white genocide’ and ‘forced land expropriation’. In our own diplomatic interactions with US counterparts, we have been told that such fake narratives have originated from within South Africa, poisoning perceptions, particularly within the White House,” Bhengu-Motsiri said.

She said it was troubling that “non-State actors” were lobbying the US, as a major power, to pressure South Africa into changing its domestic policy.

“Some individuals have even claimed to be negotiating on behalf of the South African State. It is even more alarming that certain political parties represented in Parliament and participating in the GNU now seek foreign intervention when they are unable to prevail through legitimate democratic processes,” she said.

Bhengu-Motsiri said government was holding ongoing engagements with the US administration.

Meanwhile, the ANC accused Powell of being a spokesperson for the US government, which wanted South Africa to repeal its land expropriation and broad-based black economic empowerment legislation and to withdraw the case brought before the International Court of Justice against Israel.

Bhengu-Motsiri stated it was “bizarre” that “Powell and other right-wing actors” would position themselves as spokespersons for another government against their own country.

When approached for comment on the matter, Powell told Polity stated that she was a “die-hard liberal”.

“They're just doing what they always do and painting me out to be a racist because its literally the only card they have to play,” Powell said.

Earlier this week, Powell had claimed that South Africa’s Special Envoy to the US Mcebisi Jonas was denied a visa to the US as far back as May, which the ANC shot back at her for.

“Powell has also pursued a sustained campaign of harassment against Comrade Mcebisi Jonas, the President’s Special Envoy to North America. Her aim appears to be to discredit his standing in diplomatic negotiations. She is part of a cabal frustrated by its inability to access confidential information and who have actively lobbied for Comrade Jonas to be replaced by a white businessman who serves their narrow interests,” Bhengu-Motsiri stated.

The ANC sees the Jonas matter as a “racist smear campaign”.

Powell said on X that she is a lifelong liberal who has represented South Africa "with distinction on the world stage".

"...often under very difficult circumstances. I've waved our flag high, and I've told the truth. The ANC has been exposed for misleading the public and failing to act as the US tariff deadline looms. Now, with their backs against the wall, they reach for the oldest trick in the book: racially-loaded deflection. It’s cowardly, it’s transparent, and it’s an insult to the intelligence of all South Africans. I remain unmoved," she said.

Meanwhile, the DA came to the defence of its MP, and blamed the ANC for failing to secure a trade deal with the US, blaming it on South Africa's relations with Russia and Iran. 

"No one else is to blame. South Africans see right through the ANC’s deflection. Emma Powell has been doing an outstanding job of defending and advancing South Africa’s interests on the world stage, and we back her all the way," said DA spokesperson Willie Aucamp.

He accused the ANC of undermining Powell and of using State resources to spy on her. 

"The ANC of today is behaving exactly like the National Party did years ago - it pretends and tries to convince others that the ANC's interests are the country's interests. They are NOT. The ANC is destroying South Africa with its inherent corruption and malfeasance. The DA is trying to rescue South Africa from the ANC," Aucamp stated.

He added that the ANC was deflecting from the claims about Jonas's visa that Powell had made, which the party said created a credibility issue for President Cyril Ramaphosa.