South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated that his country’s positions on issues of justice are guided not by external pressure or shifting political winds, but by enduring moral and political principles. At the heart of these principles, he stressed, is South Africa’s steadfast support for the Sahrawi people in their legitimate struggle for self-determination.
In his weekly address, delivered alongside his participation in the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Japan, Ramaphosa underscored that Pretoria’s foreign policy rests on respect for sovereignty, the defense of multilateralism, and the pursuit of justice. He emphasized that South Africa’s position on Western Sahara is neither a product of short-term calculations nor political expediency, but rather a reflection of the nation’s deep-rooted values and unwavering principles.
The president reaffirmed South Africa’s backing of the Polisario Front and the Sahrawi people in their long-standing quest to complete the process of decolonization, describing the cause as part of his country’s enduring commitment to international justice and the right of all peoples to independence and sovereignty. He further noted that this stance highlights South Africa’s role as a “peacemaker” on the African continent, firmly aligned with the principles of the African Union and the United Nations Charter.
Ramaphosa’s message also carried a pointed undertone. It served as a direct counter to recent remarks by former South African president Jacob Zuma, who during a visit to Morocco publicly criticized the Polisario and voiced support for Rabat’s position on Western Sahara. Those statements were seized upon by Moroccan media as a diplomatic victory. By contrast, Ramaphosa’s declaration makes clear that the true leadership of South Africa remains firmly committed to the principles embodied by Nelson Mandela’s legacy: justice, sovereignty, and the right of oppressed peoples to chart their own future.
