South Africa to uphold diplomacy and firm positions
South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to diplomacy, stating that it would remain firm on its principled positions.
In his address on Monday at the inaugural Annual Aziz Pahad Peace, Security, and Human Rights Dialogue in Pretoria, Lamola emphasized that South Africa would not engage in “trading insults” with any nation. “We’re practicing diplomacy. We’re not in the business of trading insults with anyone in the world. We will remain firm on our principled positions. We will continue to pursue our national interest in line with diplomatic decorum,” he remarked. “If we disagree with any country, it should not be on the basis of insults but the substance of the matter.”
Lamola also highlighted South Africa’s “mutually beneficial trade relations” with the United States, stressing that the government was committed to mending the recently strained relationship with Washington.
While South Africa is open to improving ties with the US, it remains firm on its policies. Lamola emphasized the country’s commitment to its stance, including the case against the Israeli government over alleged genocide in the Gaza Strip, which South Africa took to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2023.
“This is a matter that we will not withdraw from the court, which we have already put. This is a matter that we will not compromise. There are issues of progressive internationalism that we cannot compromise on, including the issue of the ICJ. This is an issue of international law, which has to be respected by everyone,” Lamola stated.
In his address at the Monday dialogue, Lamola also reaffirmed that South Africa would continue to pursue its redress policies, including the Expropriation Act, which has caused tensions with Washington. He explained that these policies were grounded in the country’s constitution, citing the transformative objectives outlined in various acts such as the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, the National Health Insurance Act, and the Expropriation Act.
