EFF On US and South Africa Recent Developments
By Nkosana Khumalo
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has vowed to block the potential appointment of Joel Pollak, a controversial American figure they label a “white supremacist,” as the next US Ambassador to South Africa. This fiery pledge comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions following the United States’ expulsion of South Africa’s ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, declared persona non grata by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. EFF National Spokesperson Sinawo Thambo warned that if Pollak, a former speechwriter for Tony Leon and Breitbart News editor, is appointed, the party will ensure President Cyril Ramaphosa rejects his credentials and bans him from entering the country.
The dramatic fallout between Pretoria and Washington has ignited a political firestorm, with the EFF accusing the Trump administration of bullying South Africa and aligning with local right-wing groups like AfriForum and Solidarity. As the nation braces for further diplomatic turbulence, this clash underscores deeper ideological battles over race, sovereignty, and foreign influence in South Africa.
A Diplomatic Crisis Unfolds
The saga began late on 14 March 2025, when Marco Rubio took to X, announcing that Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa’s ambassador to the US, was “no longer welcome” in the country. Rubio branded Rasool a “race-baiting politician” who “hates America and hates @POTUS,” ordering him to leave within 72 hours. The decision, rare for a foreign ambassador, stunned South African officials and sparked immediate backlash.
Rasool’s expulsion appears tied to comments he made during a Johannesburg webinar, where he reportedly described Donald Trump as the “grand wizard of a global Ku Klux Klan dressed up as Make America Great Again (MAGA).” The remarks, quoted by Breitbart News, enraged the Trump administration, already at odds with South Africa over domestic policies like the Expropriation Bill and National Health Insurance (NHI). The US recently cut aid to South Africa, accusing the government of targeting Afrikaner farmers through land reforms—a claim Pretoria denies.
The Presidency responded with a brief statement, calling the expulsion “regrettable” and reaffirming its commitment to a “mutually beneficial relationship” with the US. However, the EFF sees this as a direct assault on South African sovereignty, with Thambo declaring, “We will not allow the country to be bullied by the orange clown occupying the White House.”
EFF’s Stand Against Joel Pollak
The EFF’s ire has now turned to Joel Pollak, a potential candidate to replace outgoing US Ambassador Reuben Brigety. Pollak, a South African-born conservative known for his work at Breitbart—a platform notorious for its far-right views—previously served as a speechwriter for Tony Leon, former leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA). The EFF labels him a “white supremacist” and “race baiter,” accusing him of ties to groups seeking to undermine South Africa’s transformation agenda.
“If Pollak is appointed, we will make sure that President Ramaphosa does not sign his letters of credence and ban him from entering South Africa,” Thambo said in a statement on 15 March 2025. The EFF argues that Pollak’s appointment would signal US support for local right-wing movements like AfriForum, which have lobbied against progressive laws such as the Expropriation Bill, NHI, and the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA).
Thambo tied Pollak’s potential role to a broader conspiracy: “Trump is surrounded by white South Africans who fled this country in the 80s and 90s when black majority rule was inevitable. These forces, working alongside AfriForum and Solidarity, want to pressure our government into scrapping policies that uplift the majority.” The EFF’s vow to block Pollak has rallied its base, with supporters on X using hashtags like #NoToPollak and #DefendSASovereignty to amplify the call.
SACP’s Solly Mapaila: No Begging Trump
Adding fuel to the fire, South African Communist Party (SACP) General Secretary Solly Mapaila weighed in during a special Red Mic podcast on 14 March 2025. Addressing party members, Mapaila condemned the US move and urged South Africa to stand firm. “We should not be afraid about that—we should actually welcome that,” he said of Rasool’s persona non grata status, calling it a “badge of honour” for resisting imperialism.
Mapaila warned against grovelling to the Trump administration: “We must create an international diplomatic relationship with the United States, but not in a begging form. There must be some sense of decorum and respect.” He criticized Trump’s disregard for diplomatic norms, noting, “The United States leadership under Donald Trump has no rule book—they’ve thrown every rule book possible out, except the one that gives Donald Trump executive powers.”
The SACP leader linked the crisis to global tensions, including Trump’s threats to expand military bases in Greenland and his push to end the Ukraine war on his terms. Mapaila questioned South Africa’s decision to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky amid these dynamics, asking, “Who does he represent when he makes a peace agreement? His term of office has long expired.”
DA and AfriForum: Contrasting Reactions
The Democratic Alliance (DA), a key player in the Government of National Unity (GNU), took a more conciliatory stance. DA spokesperson Willie Aucamp called the expulsion “deeply unfortunate” and urged Ramaphosa to send a GNU delegation to the US to mend ties. “The DA and other partners in the GNU must now urgently become involved in framing foreign policy,” Aucamp said, criticising the ANC’s dominance over diplomatic appointments despite its 39% electoral share.
Meanwhile, AfriForum seized the moment to attack the ANC. CEO Kallie Kriel accused Rasool and the ruling party of “gambling with the country’s future” through reckless rhetoric. “It was Ebrahim Rasool that yesterday led a scathing attack against President Donald Trump,” Kriel said, warning that continued tensions could harm South Africa’s economy. AfriForum has long opposed the Expropriation Act, aligning with US claims of a “genocide” against white farmers—a narrative the ANC dismisses as propaganda.
A History of US-SA Friction
This isn’t the first diplomatic spat between the two nations. In 2022, then-US Ambassador Reuben Brigety falsely claimed a Russian cargo ship in Simon’s Town was loading weapons for the Ukraine war. South Africa weathered the storm without expelling Brigety, a decision the EFF now cites as proof of Pretoria’s restraint. “We continued to have diplomatic relations with the USA despite the damaging claims,” Thambo noted, contrasting it with Trump’s aggressive posture.
The Trump administration’s hostility has intensified since his return to power in January 2025. An executive order cutting aid to South Africa, signed earlier this month, accused the government of targeting Afrikaners through land expropriation—a move Rubio echoed in his criticism of Rasool. South Africa’s growing ties with BRICS nations, particularly Russia and China, have further strained relations, with the US viewing Pretoria as drifting from Western alignment.
New Insights: Pollak’s South African Ties
Beyond the provided details, Pollak’s history adds a provocative layer to the story. Born in Johannesburg in 1977, he emigrated to the US as a child during apartheid’s waning years. His tenure as Tony Leon’s speechwriter in the early 2000s tied him to the DA’s predecessor, the Democratic Party, which opposed ANC policies like affirmative action. At Breitbart, Pollak has championed conservative causes, often clashing with progressive movements—a stance the EFF sees as an extension of white privilege.
A recent X post from @SAPoliticsWatch revealed Pollak’s 2024 article praising AfriForum’s legal battles against land reform, calling it a “defence of property rights.” This has fuelled EFF fears that his appointment would embolden local right-wing groups. Political analyst Dr. Zweli Mkhize told a local broadcaster, “Pollak’s South African roots make him a lightning rod. He’s not just a diplomat—he’s a symbol of unresolved racial tensions.”
The Road Ahead: Diplomatic and Domestic Fallout
The Rasool expulsion and Pollak threat have thrust South Africa into a diplomatic bind. The Presidency’s plan to send envoys to Washington faces hurdles, with Trump’s cabinet still forming and US officials reportedly unresponsive. International news editor Sophie Mokoena noted, “South Africa doesn’t want to go to America and explain itself like a school child, but rather engage on equal terms.” Yet, with trade relations like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) at risk, the stakes are high.
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