FORMER Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman has drawn criticism over his call for the US to target South African officials with sanctions, Business Day reported.
News24 columnist Mpumelelo Mkhabela separately criticised Froneman for straying into diplomacy, arguing that he should leave such matters to diplomats.
Business Day reported that the Presidency expects Froneman to withdraw from the government-business partnership launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa, in which Froneman has been involved in work aimed at tackling crime and corruption.
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya described Froneman’s stance as “unpatriotic and destructive” and said his continued participation in the partnership was now in doubt.
“He is a successful businessman, for which we respect him. But he is not a diplomat,” Magwenya said. “One would expect he will withdraw his participation now that he is at odds with the government.”
Froneman told BizNews founder Alec Hogg that his engagement in Washington had sought to separate South African business from the government amid strained relations with the US.
“The private sector and the majority of South Africans are not the problem,” he said, arguing that Washington should instead target individuals driving policies it opposed.
Mkhabela said Froneman was risking the reputation he had built during his business career and questioned his foray into foreign policy. He also pointed to an apparent contradiction between Froneman’s call for sanctions and the fact that his planned Formula One venture would require a South African government guarantee.
Mkhabela argued that wealthy business leaders had legitimate ways to influence domestic policy without seeking intervention from foreign governments.