ANC welcomes President Obama
The African National Congress warmly welcomes the President of the United States of America, His Excellency Barack Obama, on his first state visit to South Africa.
The people of the United States, despite the stance of their government at the time of our struggle, played a pivotal role in the fight against apartheid and in assisting South Africans secure their freedom from the tyranny of minority rule.
Progressive organisations including amongst them the Rainbow Push Foundation, the Free South Africa Movement, TransAfrica Forum, the Black Congregational Caucus, Artists for a Free South Africa and many others were at the forefront of the anti-apartheid struggle. Indeed, the ANC believes that this visit by President Obama reignites and cements the close and fraternal relations the ANC and the people of South Africa have enjoyed with progressive people of the United States of America.
Building on this shared past, South Africa today enjoys robust and growing trade relations with the United States, particularly in relation to Foreign Direct Investment and Trade. Our country has significant exposure to US markets as a consequence of the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) that allows for a range of South African products to reach American markets.
While AGOA has yielded substantial returns for South Africa, with our country being the 3rd biggest beneficiary of this legislation on the continent, the African National Congress supports the call for the range of products to be expanded to include agricultural and other products. It is our belief that this visit by President Obama will provide an opportunity to engage on the expansion of AGOA as a framework, the product ranges and its period of applicability.
In keeping with our constitutionally protected right to protest, the African National Congress respects the rights of those who wish to protest against the visit by the President of the US. It is our wish that the protests will themselves be carried out in a manner that reciprocally respects the rights of others who do not share the same view.
As we welcome President Obama and his family to South Africa, we also thank them for their kind words in Ghana that our beloved icon and statesman, Comrade Nelson Mandela, who remains in a critical condition in hospital, is a hero of the world. We thank them too for their prayers and thoughts as we thank all other peoples of the globe who continue to keep Madiba in their thoughts during this time. There is no doubt in our minds that the very first African American President of the United States of America will enjoy his stay in sunny South Africa.
Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, ANC national spokesperson, June 28 2013
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