Following a recent visit to Washington DC, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen is spearheading a campaign to protect South Africa’s access to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa).

This comes as the South African government stands accused of providing Russia with weapons and ammunition when the Russian vessel, Lady R, docked at the Simon's Town naval base in Cape Town last year.

US ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety made the claim last week prompting a meeting with Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor amid tense relations with the US.

Agoa provides South Africa with preferential access to leading markets in the US and it is up for review in 2025.

Steenhuisen stressed the significant trade activity that regularly occurs between South Africa, the US as well as the UK and the European Union- (EU-) affiliated countries and said that he would meet with agriculture and industry bodies, Brigety and international organisations.

The DA has denounced the African National Congress’ (ANC’s) perceived alignment with Russia following recent activities.

“The ANC’s alignment with Russia will do severe economic and social damage to South Africa, directly risking billions of rands of trade with the West and hundreds of thousands of jobs,” Steenhuisen declared.

The party remains steadfast in its critique of the ANC’s perceived alignment with Russia, alluding to the funding the party receives overtly and covertly from Russian oligarchs and pointing to vested interests in domestic commodities.

Steenhuisen highlighted that the US, the UK and the EU account for over a third of all SA’s exports, Russia accounting for just 0.3%.