US President Donald Trump's actions have caused tensions across nations after he signed his Executive Order offering refugee status to Afrikaners and freezing aid from his country to South Africa.
A lobby group, the Foundation for Rights of Expression and Equality South Africa (Free SA), has called on the South African government to unlock sustainable growth and create real opportunities for the nation.
Free SA also called for the repeal of the Expropriation Act.
The organisation has urged the Government of National Unity (GNU) to abandon its failing economic ideology.
“While politicians and lobbyists exchange rhetoric, ordinary South Africans are left bearing the brunt of these conflicts, suffering under the weight of the ANC’s failed economic policies. The recent imposition of US tariffs on steel and aluminium, along with the withdrawal of aid, further exacerbates an already dire economic situation. However, blaming external forces for South Africa’s woes misses the point,” the organisation said.
It stated that the country's vulnerability to global economic shifts is not an unfortunate accident but rather the result of self-inflicted wounds: an over-regulated economy, inflexible labour laws, race-based interventions, and persistent threats to property rights.
Free SA emphasised that these policies have stifled investment, hindered economic growth, and exacerbated unemployment. The message from international markets is unequivocal—South Africa cannot afford to continue down this path
Spokesperson for Free SA, Reuben Coetzer said poor governance and misguided economic ideology were to blame for the nation’s crisis.
“South Africa’s economic crisis is not the result of foreign policy disputes—it is the result of years of bad governance and misguided economic ideology. If we want to protect our sovereignty and prosperity, we must stop looking for scapegoats and start implementing real reforms. The GNU has a choice: cling to outdated policies and watch the economy deteriorate further, or embrace practical solutions that will unlock growth and opportunity for all South Africans,” Coetzer said.
The organisation called for a practical reform urgently.
“A resilient economy is the best defence against external economic pressure, political opportunism, and the decline of national sovereignty,” Coetzer said.
Free SA called for three decisive steps to be taken:
1. End the State’s monopoly on ports and railways
South Africa’s logistics crisis—exacerbated by dysfunctional, state-run ports and rail networks—has crippled critical industries such as mining and agriculture. Private sector investment and management of our railways and ports would restore efficiency, lower costs, and enhance competitiveness in global markets.
2. Modernise labour laws to encourage job creation
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the engines of job creation, yet they remain shackled by archaic and overly restrictive labour regulations. Simplifying these laws and cutting red tape would remove barriers to entrepreneurship, making it easier to start and grow businesses.
3. Unlock government-owned land for private development
The state controls vast tracts of unused land—land that could be developed into low-cost housing and commercial development to empower ordinary South Africans. Instead of pursuing expropriation without compensation, the government should prioritise secure property rights, enabling wealth creation through land ownership.
“South Africans deserve a government that prioritises economic freedom over ideological posturing. The ANC’s and GNU's current policies are not only damaging relationships with international partners but are entrenching poverty and stalling progress. Free SA envisions a South Africa where government acts as a facilitator of growth, not a barrier to prosperity,” Coetzer added.
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