President-elect Donald Trump’s resounding victory may have disappointed some South African pundits. However, it presents an opportunity for the new U.S. administration to reset relations in a way that helps South Africa move in the direction of growth, while weaning it from its toxic relations with Russia, China, Iran and other pariahs.
Put simply: Trump has an opportunity to Make South Africa Great Again — with a few simple conditions.
First: South Africa has to stop overtly aligning with the world’s bad guys.
Renaming a major street after a Palestinian terrorist, for example — especially the street on which the U.S. consulate is located — should be a nonstarter.
Leila Khaled hijacked a civilian flight and threatened innocent people. South Africa has a hijacking problem — the automobile kind — and should not promote it. But if it does so, the U.S. should close the consulate.
Second: South Africa has to make it clear that it supports the West. If it wants favorable trade from the U.S., like extensions of AGOA, it should not count on American magnanimity.
Backing Hamas, and bringing spurious genocide charges against Israel — which is defending itself against Iranian-backed terrorists— at the International Court of Justice is a sign that South Africa no longer stands on the side of civilization.
Likewise when South Africa violates its own international legal obligations and gives a free pass to Russia’s Vladimir Putin or Sudan’s Omar Al-Bashir. Bowing to China’s wishes on Taiwan, and allowing the predatory Chinese Communist Party regime untrammeled access to the African continent, where it practices a new form of colonialism, is not only bad for South Africa, but should also have diplomatic costs vis-à-vis the U.S.
Third: On the positive side, the U.S. can offer incentives to South Africa that encourage domestic policy changes that the South African government has long resisted but from which South Africa would benefit.
Trump could, for example, offer support for a South African bid to host the 2040 Olympics — if, in return, South Africa suspended BEE rules and other regulations that stymie foreign investment and frustrate South Africa’s efforts to upgrade electricity production and maintain basic infrastructure. South Africa would benefit from that regulatory holiday, which could be renewed after the Olympics.
With Egypt already hinting at an effort to be the first African country to host the Games in 2040, South Africa risks losing an opportunity that may not come again, and that may help to focus policymakers and the public on a positive vision for the future.
There are also opportunities to tap into private U.S. assistance and investment in new projects that South Africa has already undertaken.
Cape Town’s effort to develop independent “green energy” power sources is an example. South African-born Elon Musk — now a key adviser fo the incoming Trump administration — could offer to help develop that energy infrastructure, but only if South Africa commits to economic reform.
The greatest disincentives to invest in South Africa remain crime and corruption. Trump could work with South Africa to boost law enforcement capacity — but only if South Africa agrees to reforms, such as allowing the reorganization of the “commando” rural community units.
Though such incentives, Trump could help South Africa overcome domestic political resistance and adopt policies necessary for its own success.
Joel B. Pollak is senior editor-at-large at Breitbart News in Los Angeles.
