Key Players and Their Role
- The Afrikaner Group: This group is made up of prominent Afrikaner business and political figures, including investor André Pienaar, Freedom Front Plus (FF+) leaders Corne Mulder and Pieter Groenewald, and businessman Chris Opperman. They are positioning themselves as unofficial intermediaries between Pretoria and Washington.
- The U.S. Officials: The group met with U.S. counterparts at a private dinner hosted by the White House Historical Association, raising concerns about the potential for unofficial diplomacy.
The Private Proposal
The group’s proposal centers on the “Secure Saldanha Prosperity Corridor,” a large-scale project aimed at attracting U.S. investment in South Africa. The plan includes:
- Developing the deepwater port of Saldanha Bay.
- Investing in mineral processing, liquefied natural gas terminals, and data centers.
- Powering these facilities with imported natural gas and nuclear energy.
- Requesting an exemption from BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) requirements, which are a key part of South Africa’s economic policy.
Proposed Cooperation and Trade
The proposal also outlines a “U.S.-SA security technology partnership,” advocating for the use of “the best American platforms” for surveillance, data analysis, and law enforcement. This partnership would aim to address issues like:
- Combating global drug syndicates.
- Smuggling, illicit financing, and border corruption.
- Using shared digital platforms for cargo monitoring to reduce trade risks and attract investment.
