“FF Plus Leader Corné Mulder Must Not Irritate Us” Nomvula Mokonyane Hit Out Over AGOA Exclusion

African National Congress (ANC) First Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane has hit back at Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) leader Corné Mulder and other opposition figures who have blamed the governing party for South Africa’s exclusion from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Mokonyane reportedly expressed her frustration with critics who have accused the ANC of contributing to the deterioration of relations between South Africa and the United States, which ultimately led to the country’s exclusion from the preferential trade arrangement.

Her remarks come amid growing political disagreements over the decision by the administration of US President Donald Trump to terminate South Africa’s participation in AGOA, a trade programme that provided eligible African countries with preferential access to the American market.

The controversy intensified after the US announced its decision to remove South Africa from the trade arrangement, which has been in place for approximately 26 years. The programme has allowed qualifying South African products to enter the American market without certain import duties, benefiting industries including agriculture, automotive manufacturing and mining.

Mulder has argued that the ANC government must accept responsibility for the diplomatic fallout, accusing President Cyril Ramaphosa and International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola of failing to address Washington’s concerns.

The FF Plus leader also maintained that the US demands for normalising relations were not unreasonable and accused the government of ignoring repeated warnings about the consequences of its foreign policy decisions.

The Democratic Alliance has also criticised the government’s handling of relations with Washington. DA representative Ryan Smith described the exclusion as avoidable and blamed Lamola’s diplomatic approach for the outcome.

However, Mokonyane’s response signals that the ANC is unwilling to accept the opposition’s interpretation of the developments without challenging it.

The dispute has also exposed tensions within the Government of National Unity (GNU), where the ANC, DA and FF Plus are coalition partners despite their disagreements over foreign policy and South Africa’s international relations.

South Africa’s exclusion from AGOA is expected to create additional challenges for exporters who previously benefited from preferential access to the American market. The decision is scheduled to take effect in January 2027, according to reports.

The political fallout is unfolding just as South Africans head to the polls for the 2026 local government elections, with political parties using the controversy to challenge one another’s economic and diplomatic records.

The central question remains whether the ANC government can restore trade relations with Washington and protect South African businesses from the potential economic consequences.

Source: https://x.com/TimesLIVE/status/2117597839123456063?a=Rp7_o5TDEmKmQgHtjSU&s=19