Following discussions with representatives in the US, the Solidarity Movement has issued a warning to the South African government that a Bill is being considered by the US to review bilateral relations between both countries.

Relations between South Africa and Donald Trump’s administration came to a head after the signing of the Expropriation Act, tensions which many believe were exacerbated by the Solidarity Movement and its members AfriForum and Solidarity lobbying the US.

Trump accused South Africa of "confiscating land" and "treating some classes of people very badly" and signed an executive order cutting financial assistance to South Africa, citing the Expropriation Act.

Trump has also offered Afrikaners the option to resettle in the US under refugee status, which AfriForum has declined but asked for assistance to help form an Afrikaner settlement in South Africa.

Many have labelled the Solidarity Movement and its associated organisations as “treasonous”, with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party recently opening a case of treason against AfriForum.

However, the Solidarity Movement and its organisations have instead blamed the South African government, and particularly the African National Congress (ANC), for alienating the US and straining tensions.

“There is growing anger in the US government over South Africa’s foreign policy. This is going to cost South Africa dearly, and tens of thousands of people who will lose their jobs will pay the price for the government’s reckless policies. This is the reaction of the Solidarity Movement, of which AfriForum and Solidarity are part of, after discussions today with senior members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the House of Representatives and the Senate in the USA. This also follows discussions held yesterday with senior members of the Trump administration in the White House,” the Solidarity Movement said.

It revealed that members of the US Committee on Foreign Affairs are currently considering re-submitting a 2024 draft Bill to the House of Representatives to review relations, citing South Africa’s alleged historic ties with Hamas, China, Iran and Russia.

The Solidarity Movement argued that as a result of these ties, South Africa had lost its neutrality and it pointed out that as Republicans controlled the Senate, the Bill had a high chance to being passed.

“Furthermore, the Bill also addresses South Africa’s flawed domestic policy, the government’s inability to govern the country and its laxity towards corruption. A comprehensive review of the bilateral relations between the USA and South Africa is proposed in the Bill. If this Bill is passed, it would be solely the fault of the government, and specifically the ANC. This situation has been building up over many years and the recent passing of the Expropriation Act was merely the trigger,” it said.

The Solidarity Movement warned that the Bill would negatively affect South Africa’s participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), jeopardising 500 000 South African jobs.

The Solidarity Movement wants the US Senate and the House of Representatives to recommend to Trump that South Africa remain a member of AGOA, while exerting political pressure on South Africa to change its policies.

“The Solidarity Movement has proposed that, instead of punishing ordinary South Africans, the focus should rather be on sanctions against corrupt individuals and pressure on ANC leaders. However, the South African government is conspicuous by its absence in the USA. Its diplomatic abilities seem to have collapsed. The Solidarity Movement cannot and does not want to act on behalf of the government, but we believe our call for intensified political pressure to bring about policy change is for the benefit of all South Africans,” it said.