Thousands of South Africans marched in Johannesburg on Saturday, March 21, 2026, to demonstrate in defense of national sovereignty amid increasing pressure from the United States. The demonstration, organized by the African National Congress (ANC), also took place in Cape Town.
The protests come as South Africa has filed a complaint with international courts alleging genocide by Israel during its war in Gaza. The U.S. Administration, under former President Trump, has also voiced concerns over South Africa’s domestic policies, specifically alleging persecution of Afrikaners – descendants of European colonists – and criticizing affirmative action programs designed to address historical inequalities stemming from colonization and apartheid.
“The principle of national sovereignty is being challenged by foreign and national forces,” read a statement released by the ANC calling for the demonstration. Protesters also denounced “punitive economic measures and direct foreign interference in domestic policy,” though Washington was not explicitly named in the call to action.
The United States previously imposed duties of 30% on most South African exports – the highest rate for any African nation – before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned those tariffs. The march occurred on a public holiday commemorating the Sharpeville Massacre of 1960, when at least 69 anti-apartheid protesters were killed by security forces while demonstrating against pass laws restricting the movement of Black South Africans.
A sea of green and yellow – the colors of the ANC – filled the streets of Johannesburg’s central business district. The demonstration highlights growing tensions between South Africa and the United States, and could influence future diplomatic relations between the two countries.
© 2026 Belga Newsbriefing. All rights of reproduction and representation are reserved. All information reproduced in this section (dispatches, photos, logos) is protected by intellectual property rights held by Belga Newsbriefing.
