United States Archives - Voice of the Cape

Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition gives updates on US tariffs

By Rachel Mohamed In a joint media briefing, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition provided a significant update on the South African government’s response to the US tariffs and its plans to protect the country’s economic interests. The Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition’s Ministerial Spokesperson, Kaamil Alli, told VOC News that South Africa is regrettably bound by non-disclosure agreements with its US counterparts. […]

12 August 2025

International News

SA response measures to the U.S. tariffs

By Rachel Mohamed In a joint statement released this week, the Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation and Trade, Industry, and Competition reiterated their commitment to ongoing discussions regarding trade and investment relations with the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to introduce new tariffs on exports from more than 90 countries, including South Africa. Trump announced this on his Truth Social platform, claiming that billions of dollars […]

7 August 2025

International News

U.S. tariffs imposed on SA set to take effect this week

By Rachel Mohamed Recent reports indicate that South Africa has missed the August 1 deadline to negotiate a trade deal with the United States. This situation arises after President Donald Trump’s executive order, which adjusted tariffs for several countries, including a new 30% tariff on South Africa scheduled to take effect this week. Economists have warned that these US tariffs on exports could severely impact South Africa's already strained economy. […]

4 August 2025

International News

Trump Administration Imposes Expanded Travel Ban Affecting 12 Countries

By Rachel Mohamed United States President Donald Trump has enacted a new travel ban restricting entry from 12 countries, echoing his controversial 2017 ban but with a broader and more diverse list of nations. Speaking to VOC, international relations expert Dr. Oscar van Heerden criticised the move, saying it reflects the administration’s broader stance on immigration. “They’ve implemented a widespread ban on refugees and asylum seekers, particularly targeting people […]

9 June 2025

International

US seizes $13M (R231M) aircraft allegedly for Venezuelan President Maduro amid rising tensions and sanctions

By Ragheema Mclean On Monday, United States authorities announced the seizure of a $13 million aircraft, the Dassault Falcon 900EX, in the Dominican Republic. The plane, allegedly used by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, was confiscated and transported to Florida. Maduro was not on board at the time of the seizure. According to US Attorney General Merrick Garland, the aircraft was purchased through a shell company and smuggled out of the […]

5 September 2024

International

Washington has ‘obligation’ to fulfil military sales backlog to Taiwan: US lawmaker

The United States has an “obligation” to fulfil its backlog of arms sales to Taiwan and there is a bipartisan effort to ensure this happens, the vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee said on Friday during a trip to Taipei. Taiwan has since last year complained of delays to US weapon deliveries, such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, as manufacturers turned supplies to Ukraine as it battles invading Russian forces. The […]

1 September 2023

International

‘The hijab is mine’: Muslim women take back their rights from US law enforcement

Alaa Massri was just 18 years old when she was arrested. It was the summer of 2020. Hundreds of thousands of people across the United States were protesting against the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who was killed while being arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. Massri helped organise some of the protests in Miami, Florida. She proudly wore her hijab - as she had for the […]

21 July 2023

International

Saudi Arabia ‘maturer guys’ in spat with US, says Energy Minister

INTERNATIONAL Saudi Arabia decided to be the "maturer guys" in a spat with the United States over oil supplies, the Kingdom's Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, said on Tuesday, Reuters reports. The decision by the OPEC+ oil producer group, led by Saudi Arabia, this month to cut oil output targets unleashed a war of words between the White House and Riyadh ahead of the Kingdom's Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum, which drew top US business […]

26 October 2022

International News

US scrambles to evacuate citizens and allies from Afghanistan

INTERNATIONAL The United States is scrambling to get its citizens and allies out of Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover of Kabul amid growing anxiety over the fate of the country. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said US officials are working around the clock at the airport in Kabul in an “enormously challenging and fluid situation” to ensure a safe departure for those seeking to leave the country. Washington had moved its […]

19 August 2021

United States

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