The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has opposed the potential appointment of Joel Pollak as the US Ambassador to South Africa, labelling him a "white supremacist".

The party has pledged to block his entry into the country and ensure that President Cyril Ramaphosa does not sign his letters of credence if he is appointed.

The EFF’s strong stance follows recent developments regarding US relations with South Africa, particularly the US declaration of South African ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, as a "persona non grata".

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statement, which labelled Rasool a "race baiter" came weeks after President Donald Trump slammed South Africa's Expropriation Act.

Sinawo Tambo, EFF spokesperson, expressed the party's disapproval of the US actions in expelling Rasool, citing past incidents, such as former US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety spreading false claims about a Russian cargo ship taking arms to use against Ukraine. Tambo emphasised that despite these claims, South Africa did not expel the ambassador and continued diplomatic relations with the US.

Tambo also expressed support for Rasool’s characterisation of Trump as the "grand wizard of a global Ku Klux Klan dressed up as Make America Great Again (MAGA)."

The EFF further criticised the resurgence of right-wing groups in South Africa, which, according to them, are emboldened by the Trump administration and are lobbying for the US government to intervene in South Africa's domestic policies.

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The EFF has accused groups like AfriForum and Solidarity of pushing for the US to apply pressure on South Africa to halt key policy changes.

The party sees Pollak, a former speechwriter for Tony Leon and a known figure at Breitbart, known for its racist and xenophobic views, as a threat to South Africa’s diplomatic relations with the US.

Tambo emphasised that the EFF will not allow a "white supremacist" to represent the US in South Africa and will take all necessary steps to prevent Pollak's appointment.

The EFF urged Ramaphosa to stand firm and resist any attempts to "bully" South Africa. Tambo called on the government to reject the pressure from the US, particularly under the leadership of a president he described as "the orange clown occupying the White House".

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

IOL Politics