Johannesburg – The South African Union of General Industrial Workers (Ziusa) has said it will “reject and absolutely denounce humiliating legitimacy” before the “racist Trump administration” by the SA National Unity Government (GNU) and the African National Congress (ANC).
President Trump signed an executive order to cut aid to South Africa, expelled Ambassador Ebrahim Lasor and offered the status of disgruntled white farmer refugees in his country.
Trump's nomination for pro-Israel conservative activist Leo Brent Bozell III is unlikely to improve the freezing relationship between the US and South Africa as SA ambassador.
On Wednesday (March 26, 2025), Viusa, a socialist union, warned against kotoing to Trump.
“This is nothing more than to invite further imperialist bullying while betraying disarmed South African workers and denying opportunities to protect their jobs,” Giwusa said in a statement available to Bullushes.
“Instead, the government is engaged in vain pursuits to understand that it is a government obsessed with crippling the South African economy.”
Zilusa said the Trump administration is embarrassingly promoting “the most reactionary neo-fascists” and wants to put the biggest damage to society, the environment and the economy.
“The goal is to support racist white and right-wing populist forces and oppose the ideas of black majority democratic governments,” the union said.
South Africa has been on the US crosshairs since Trump's re-election as president over his stance on Israel, an ally in America's pocket.
South Africa has denounced Israel for genocide against the people of Gaza and has taken the issue to the International Court of Justice.
“Another aim is to boldly discourage the ANC government from pursuing independent domestic and foreign policies,” Giwusa said.
“One obvious way is torture for the working class, which started with the cruelest end of PEPFAR funds (taken close to 20% of SA's AIDS-related spending), then rewind climate protection.
“Thousands of healthcare workers have lost their jobs without prior warnings, due process, compensation, and HIV, TB and other patients without notice or alternatives.”
The Desmond Tutu Foundation warns that if the USID fund's $440 million is not revived or provided by the state, it could result in more than 600,000 early deaths of South Africans.
“While you might argue that GNU and ANC are surprised by Pepfer's decision to claim to be controversial, there is absolutely no excuse to revive the imminent novelty of Africa's Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the funds for energy transition given Trump's open climate change denial,” Giwusa warned.
Juusa said the imminent end of Ana's benefits would “constitute South Africa for solidarity with the cause of the liberation of Palestine and constitute a part of this economic war to maintain Trump's protectionist trade policy.
Ziuusa said ending Anna when it expired in September was “no surprise” from the administration that imposed a massive tariff hike on its nearest western allies.
“The working class cannot bury its head in the sand like the ruling class,” Zilusa said.
“We need to stare into the face and be prepared for the inevitable.
“We should completely refuse dangerous authenticity and surrender to Trump, Marco Rubio and Elon Musk.”
