‘He Must Not Irritate Us’ — Mokonyane Fires Back at AGOA Critics Blaming ANC for US Exclusion Today

ANC first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane has launched a strong verbal attack on critics of the governing party, taking particular aim at Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) leader Corné Mulder over criticism surrounding South Africa’s exclusion from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Mokonyane expressed her frustration with opposition figures and other critics who have blamed the African National Congress (ANC) for South Africa’s failure to secure continued participation in the United States trade preference programme.

In her remarks, Mokonyane delivered a pointed message directed at Mulder and those questioning the ANC’s handling of the matter.

“He must not irritate us,” she said, in a statement reflecting the growing political tensions surrounding the country’s trade relationship with the United States.

The AGOA programme provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with preferential access to the American market for thousands of products. South Africa’s exclusion has therefore raised concerns about the potential economic consequences, particularly for exporters, businesses and workers whose livelihoods are connected to international trade.

The development has also become a significant political talking point, with opposition parties questioning the ANC government’s foreign policy decisions and diplomatic approach towards Washington.

Critics have argued that the governing party must take responsibility for the diplomatic and political developments that contributed to South Africa losing its preferential trade benefits.

However, Mokonyane’s response suggests that the ANC leadership is increasingly unwilling to accept what it considers unfair political attacks over the issue.

Mulder and other opposition voices have continued to scrutinise the government’s handling of relations with the United States, making AGOA a contentious subject in South Africa’s political landscape.

The disagreement comes at a particularly sensitive time for the ANC, which faces growing pressure to demonstrate its ability to protect the country’s economic interests while managing complex international relationships.

Whether Mokonyane’s remarks will intensify the political exchanges between the ANC and its opponents remains to be seen. Nevertheless, the controversy has once again exposed the deep divisions among political parties over South Africa’s foreign policy and economic diplomacy.

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