Pretoria understands its own problems better and should not expect "strangers" in Washington to grasp its internal issues, Jacob Zuma has said

Former South African president Jacob Zuma has issued a pointed rebuke of President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent diplomatic outreach to the United States, suggesting that foreign involvement in domestic matters undermines national sovereignty.

Addressing a crowd of his uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party supporters in KwaMaphumulo over the weekend, Zuma questioned the legitimacy and wisdom of appealing to international actors, particularly the United States, for assistance with South Africa's internal challenges.

"Why must we expect strangers, sitting in Washington, to understand what we are going through?" Zuma asked during his speech. "We know our problems better than anyone else. We should be the ones to solve them."

The comments come just weeks after President Ramaphosa led a high-profile ministerial delegation to Washington, D.C., to mend strained diplomatic ties with the Trump administration and attract investment amid growing economic pressures at home.

The visit included meetings at the White House and with key business stakeholders, with the South African delegation seeking to promote technology partnerships and quell rising tensions over land reform and crime.

Relations between Pretoria and Washington have recently soured over controversial remarks from US officials alleging human rights violations and accusing the South African government of mismanaging key sectors. Ramaphosa's team used the visit to push back against what they termed "inflammatory rhetoric" and to reaffirm South Africa's commitment to democratic principles.

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Zuma, however, painted the outreach as a desperate move by an administration out of touch with its people. He stopped short of naming Ramaphosa directly but left little doubt about whom his remarks were aimed at.

"You can hold your meetings with Americans all you want, but we will not accept solutions from people who have never set foot in our townships," Zuma said, to applause from the crowd.

Zuma has been steadily ramping up his public appearances under the MK Party banner in recent months, positioning himself as an alternative voice to the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which he once led.

His critique reflects growing frustration in parts of the electorate over the country's stagnant economy, persistent inequality, and rising crime levels.

Political analysts say Zuma's remarks tap into a wider sentiment of scepticism toward foreign influence and the perceived failure of the government to address urgent local needs."This is classic Zuma," said political commentator Thandi Maseko.

"He is playing to a base that feels abandoned by the current leadership and distrustful of foreign agendas."

While Ramaphosa's office has not formally responded to Zuma's comments, government officials have continued to defend the US trip as a necessary step to rebuild investor confidence and foster international cooperation.

Whether Zuma's rhetoric will translate into broader support for the MK Party remains to be seen. But as the country inches closer to the next general election, his re-emergence on the national stage is once again stirring the political waters.

First published by IOL