The Solidarity Movement kicks off its visit to the USA

The Solidarity Movement has kicked off an extensive visit to the United States of America (USA). According to Flip Buys, chairperson of the Solidarity Movement, the time has come for community diplomacy.

According to Buys, the government and the ANC are complicit in the poor diplomatic relations between South Africa and the US, and it can no longer be trusted to handle it alone. The country is too important to leave it in their hands.

The purpose of the visit is to advocate for the country, the economy and the people who are working. The Solidarity Movement will visit various role players in the US government at the federal and state levels in the coming weeks.

The Solidarity Movement sent several letters to the South African government, including President Ramaphosa, attempting to engage in discussions about the diplomatic crisis, its consequences and possible solutions before the visit. However, this was unsuccessful.

This visit follows a year in which the ANC government has seriously damaged relations with the USA – the world’s greatest power and South Africa’s most important trading partner.

The consequences of this alienation are currently being felt by ordinary people in South Africa, who are already suffering from a weakening economy.

According to Buys, there is great concern about South Africa’s diplomatic infrastructure. “Like many other infrastructures in the country, the government’s diplomatic infrastructure has imploded. Previously, South Africa had diplomatic infrastructure down to state level, but now there is not even an ambassador, and the special envoy does not even have a visa. The question is not what the Solidarity Movement is doing in the USA, but where is the government?” Buys said.

In the face of this decaying state diplomacy, the Solidarity Movement has practised community diplomacy over the years, built trusted relationships in the USA, and established credibility through the constructive role that our institutions play in South Africa. This creates a unique opportunity to offer a positive alternative in light of the currently existing decaying state relations.

Earlier this year, Congressman Ronnie Jackson of Texas introduced a bill to review the US relationship with South Africa. The reasons for this included the government’s increasing ties with hostile states, its direct links to terrorist organisations such as Hamas, its open hostility towards Israel, the deep-rooted corruption among senior ANC leaders, and the serious human rights violations that continue in South Africa.

he ANC is responsible for the poor diplomatic relations. They can no longer be trusted to repair them alone. The private sector and civil society must play a much greater role. “Where government ruins relations and endangers the country’s economic future, the Solidarity Movement builds bridges, creates solutions, and restores hope,” Buys said.

Solidarity and AfriForum will each have a specific focus during the tour and will communicate about it separately.