US sanctions: If they try it, what will you pretend not to care about?

Loading player...
America just slapped us with tariffs, cut aid and offered ‘evacuation plans’ to a few Afrikaner white farmers, basically telling us we messed up. You might be asking yourself, what’s up with this beef again between the US and SA? Last week, Trump posted on social media (Truth Social) that the US would bar South Africa from the next G20 Summit, hosted in Miami in 2026, a direct reaction to what he called Pretoria’s mistreatment of white farmers, alleging “killing white people” and “human-rights abuses”.

He followed that up with a suspension of US subsidies and financial aid to South Africa. The official statement from the South African government described Trump’s post as “regrettable” and “not substantiated by fact,” rejecting claims that any group in SA is facing systemic “genocide.” In response, last night President Ramaphosa addressed the nation, calling the US move “punitive,” stressing SA’s sovereignty and affirming SA’s right to sit at the G20 “in its own name and right.”

Relations that were already tense have now escalated into a near-full breakdown of diplomatic goodwill.

Stacey and J Sbu were joined by renowned comedian Carvin H Goldstone to discuss this topic. If you missed it live, listen in!
1 Dec 2025 English South Africa Society & Culture · Personal Journals

Other recent episodes

Have you outgrown your friends?

Palesa dropped one of those confessions that will have you stopping to think about your own life. She loves her friends, has real history with them and would not trade those memories for anything. But something has shifted and she just cannot unfeel it. The conversations, the energy, the mindset,…
14 May 5 min

Would you risk your life to stop a crime?

South Africa's crime rate means most of us have either seen something go down or know someone who has. Stacey and J Sbu put the question to KZN: if a crime happened right in front of you today, would you step in or would you stay back? Some say intervening…
19 May 7 min

Social media: Should parents be allowed to post their kids?

In the age of Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, sharing milestones of your children online has become as natural as breathing for most South African parents. But here is the thing. South Africa's POPI Act exists specifically to protect personal information and a child's image is personal information. Yet millions of…
12 May 10 min

A strong confessor gets vulnerable...

Once a week, on a Thursday, Stacey and J Sbu get into other people's lives. This week we’ve got anonymous from Hillcrest, who is feeling a bit emotional about their home situation. Here's what they had to say: “I’m the strong one in my family, the one everyone depends on…
7 May 7 min

Jashmir joins J Sbu to chat about his win at the Africa Golden Awards

South African DJ and producer Jashmir has won the Most Promising Artist award at the prestigious Africa Golden Awards held in Kenya. Jashmir is known for a signature fusion sound including Gqom, electronic music and eastern influences. We’re all about supporting local and shining a spotlight on our brothers and…
7 May 6 min