‘There are some seriously bad things he can do to us’ -- Dawie Roodt on Trump

US President Donald Trump’s ‘bully boy’ tactics towards foreign adversaries poses a grave risk to South Africa, according to prominent SA economist Dawie Roodt.

Trump’s largely hostile stance towards the current SA administration could have severe implications beyond purely financial impacts, Roodt says.

“This is something to be very concerned about for a number of reasons,” Roodt said in response to Cape Chamber queries. “The important point is that Trump might be a bully, but he is the strongest bully in the playground – the guy is prepared to do some real radical stuff.”  

Financial sanctions against South Africa could be “very painful”, but there could be other unforeseen impacts, says Roodt, who believes much circumspection is required when engaging the US.

Roodt questioned the wisdom of South Africa hosting a joint naval exercise involving China, Russia and Iran in light of the current geopolitical tensions:  “If he (Trump) reckons that Iran is getting too much of a hold on South Africa, or China or Russia, then who knows what he is prepared to do – certainly everything is possible, because he is rearranging the world order.”  

Roodt said South Africa has strategic importance for the US due to the recent shift in global shipping routes, with a much bigger proportion of vessel traffic rounding the Cape. 

South Africa’s platinum ore reserves and other mineral resources, while certainly valuable, were unlikely to feature prominently on America’s radar: “We South Africans think it is very important, but it is not something crucial. We have a lot of platinum and other minerals, but the world can get along without that,” Roodt said.