Trump raises Mbeki's ire

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS: FORMER PRESIDENT FAILS TO UNDERSTAND 'SUDDEN' SHIFT

- Vhahangwele Nemakonde

South Africa had a cordial relationship with US President Donald Trump's Republican Party for decades, according to former president Thabo Mbeki, who fails to understand the "sudden" shift.

Mbeki said the Trump of the second term differed from the Trump of the first.

Trump served his first term in 2017 and lost to Joe Biden in 2020 in an election riddled with allegations of vote rigging by his supporters.

In 2020, Lana Marks served as the US ambassador to South Africa and conveyed positive intentions from the US towards the country.

She said at the time of her appointment in 2020: "I will use my time in South Africa to expand our trade and business partnerships and to support SA's efforts to achieve HIV epidemic control."

According to Mbeki, it was Trump's directive for Marks to show goodwill to the South African government.

"During Trump's first term, the ambassador made it clear to me that in terms of what she had to do in South Africa, it was in agreement with the government. Why this sudden change? Even with President Trump?" Mbeki told the SABC on Monday.