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By Edwin Naidu
Whatever one may think about US President Donald Trump or, for that matter, the expelled South African ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, it is no longer relevant.
What matters is the impact of these two on ordinary citizens in South Africa and the world.
One can argue they are already paying the price for the intransigent bully from the US or from the learned Cape Town politician whose diplomatic training amounted to preschool training.
Trump’s four years cannot go fast enough, while Rasool and his supporters, who cannot organise a piss-up in a brewery, gave him a tame hero’s welcome recently. They could not even dial a crowd for the revived politician, now back to playing in the Democratic Alliance backwater after showing that he could not swim with the big fish.
Rasool did not stand up to Trump on a public platform to warrant such adulation.
His views were presented during a webinar think-tank. So much for bravery. But there was no thinking when Rasool opened his mouth. Even former president Thabo Mbeki seems to think that the former premier of Cape Town got it wrong.
What would he have done had he been schooled like Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukraine leader, in a recent White House broadcast? It is a moot point. Rasool can be feted as the man who got kicked out of Trump land because he could not shut up. That’s good on the CV for a politician officially off to pasture. Why should he care about his actions?
But the impact of his foot-in-the-mouth calamity was felt swiftly on the currency, which took a tumble. Far worse, the Health Minister may downplay the US donor funding for HIV/AIDS projects, however, when you annoy a bully and his wealthy sycophant with roots in Pretoria, be warned, it will get worse.
Attending a higher education conference the other evening, I heard from an African academic in Ghana that US-based recipients of funding, whose operations are in South Africa, are extremely worried that they may soon feel the chill.
Donor-funded programmes based in South Africa are at risk. There is a view that those who receive US funding should consider opening offices in other parts of the continent.
It will get worse if South Africa becomes persona non grata. Academic and science-funded US programmes will go. Some already hang in the balance, despite having been approved.
Last week Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism reported in University World News that all South Africa’s US-funded research grants may be on hold. This is alarming news.
The article reported that some experts estimate that as much as 70% of South Africa’s medical research – or up to US$400 million (about ZAR7.2 billion) will be lost.
Rasool may not care that he is persona non grata in Washington. He should shove that arrogance, the same conduct which has led to a tenuous Government of National Unity, because of three decades of ANC arrogance.
Because of him, South African academia, science and research are pariahs in the eyes of the United States. Throughout Africa there is a fear that their interaction with Pretoria may cost it American dollars.
If South Africa’s commitment to clean governance ensured that monies allocated for education reached their intended recipients, the country could easily tell Trump to shove off.
However, with corruption a feature of ANC rule, and poor governance manifesting itself in wastage, the country’s science and technology and education sector benefit from the largesse of the United States, European Union and other benefactors.
Trump deserves to be told to shove off – but that is the prerogative of American voters – not Rasool, who must be back to reality in Cape with two David Bowie songs: This is not America.
The second, performed with Nine in Nails, is far more nervy fare: I’m Afraid of Americans.
What next? That’s what academia is holding its breath for?
Edwin Naidu is Editor of Inside Education.
INSIDE EDUCATION