As part of its ongoing Africa Dialogue Series, the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies (CGAS) at the University of the Free State (UFS) hosted an insightful online discussion on 11 June 2025 under the theme ‘US-South Africa Relations’. 

Facilitated by Prof Hussein Solomon, Senior Professor at CGAS, the session featured guest speaker Joel Pollak, Senior Editor‑at‑Large and in‑house Counsel at Breitbart News.

Strong people-to-people ties, strained government relations 

In his opening remarks, Pollack acknowledged the enduring goodwill between the people of both nations. “Americans continue to see South Africa as a fascinating destination to visit and study, and many South Africans – despite their criticisms of certain aspects of US foreign and domestic policy - enjoy American culture,” he said. “There’s a great deal of cross-pollination between the two countries, even though we are located on opposite ends of the globe.”  

Despite these strong cultural and social ties, Pollak highlighted the growing rift in governmental relations. He attributed the decline to South Africa’s recent internal challenges. “Over the last decade, South Africa has endured political disarray and economic stagnation. These issues have weakened the country’s standing as a reliable partner for the United States,’’ he explained.  

He added that South Africa remains a valuable ally in the African context, particularly in shaping regional governance. “A weakened South Africa is less able to support or advance American policy objectives on the continent,” he said. 

Trade policy and international posture  

‘’We’ve seen South Africa adopt a more aggressive posture on the global stage, even as its economic and military capacity continues to wane,” Pollak observed. “This includes adopting positions that appear to oppose those of traditional American allies.”  

Opportunities for rebuilding trust  

Despite these challenges, Pollak saw potential for renewed cooperation, pointing to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent visit to the Oval Office as a key moment. “It was an opportunity to reset the relationship, perhaps through discussions on the renewal of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which is due to expire soon,” he noted. 

He further proposed that non-governmental stakeholders could play a role in repairing strained relations. “In my view, businesses should take the lead – putting forward proposals that align with the interest of both governments, potentially offering solutions that neither can refuse,’’ he said. 

Open dialogue and engagement  

Following Pollak’s presentation, Prof Solomon opened the floor to the audience for a Q&A session. Participants raised questions on a wide range of topics, including US policy on the Israel-Palestine conflict and the prospect of targeted sanctions against South Africans perceived to be out of step with certain American values.