ARISE SOUTH AFRICA
March Edition
Let’s Make A Change Together.
A note from our President Dagada;
South African politician, Ebrahim Rasool, has returned to the country after a controversial visit to the United States, and is now "standing by" his remarks regarding the Trump administration. A crowd gathered in the rain outside the airport to hear Rasool speak about his abrupt expulsion from the US, which came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared him “persona non grata” in a post on X on 14 March.In his post Rubio called Rasool a “race-baiting politician who hates America and hates President Donald Trump”. Rubio’s comments were triggered by a lecture Rasool gave during a webinar hosted by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, in which he spoke critically about US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, saying Trump was showing “a disrespect for the institutional base of the current hegemonic order”. The relationship between South Africa and the United States has seen its share of complexities. Rasool’s expulsion followed a Breitbart article criticizing his analysis of Trump’s crackdown on diversity and equity programs, which the U.S. labeled ‘race-baiting’. Rasool argued Trump’s MAGA movement responds to fears of a non-white majority electorate. The U.S. retaliated by halting all financial aid to South Africa, alleging support for Hamas and Iran. Rasool’s return and unapologetic stance highlight the clash between diplomatic loyalty and moral courage. As tensions rise, South Africa’s resolve to challenge global powers—while navigating complex alliances—will shape its future.
Arise South Africa, Arise.