PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa is rather naive in his assumption that by intervening in the City of Joburg’s renaming of Sandton Drive to Palestinian freedom fighter Leila Khaled will soften the American government’s hostile attitude.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the Presidency had recognised the diplomatic sensitivities around the renaming of Sandton Drive, particularly with the US.
“It is for this reason that the national government, through the Dirco, is in talks with the City. The purpose of these talks is to agree on a process that will allow the national executive to manage the diplomatic tensions with the US without further inflaming the situation.”
The Presidency needs no reminder that no amount of intervention will make the Trump administration think otherwise of our country unless it's prepared to be a shadow country of the US.
The signs were clear from the early days when Trump took over that the countries that did not toe his and Elon Musk’s line were in trouble. That their government has taken issue with the renaming of that road is clear indication that South Africa’s sovereignty is their last concern. If not, why would they find it appropriate to express opinion, let alone intimidating a sovereign state over the renaming of a road in honour of a Palestinian freedom fighter?
Since they have stuffed their noses into this country's internal matters, will they also take issue with the roads that are named in honour of colonialists and apartheid architects. We doubt they will since they have unashamedly made their supremacist agenda known.
By attempting to appease the Americans, Ramaphosa is doing his country a disservice. Nelson Mandela, whom the Americans once classified as a terrorist must be turning in his grave that the country he gave up his life for is today caving into American pressure over its effort to honour the struggle of Palestinians.
Ramaphosa must be careful of setting a precedent that will cost this country dearly. Today it will be about renaming that the Americans dislike, next will be how and who should decide on the direction South Africa takes. They have done it elsewhere and will not hesitate to do it here if the door is wide open.