US embassy silent over S. Africa regime change claims

The US Embassy in South Africa has refused to confirm or deny claims that its government is pursuing regime change agenda in the country.

Xinhua requested the embassy in Pretoria to comment on claims by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) that the US was trying to remove the party from power.

ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa told Xinhua earlier that some South African students on exchange program in the U.S. were taught to spy and pursue regime change in SA.

Cynthia Harvey, the spokesperson at U.S. Embassy in South Africa could not say if they deny or confirm the allegations.

She said the 46 young South Africans took part in the Mandela Washington Fellowship, formerly known as YALI (Young African Leadership Initiative) in 2014 exchange programme. She could not elaborate what the young South Africans were taught in America.

Harvey, however, said, "Just as we do in countries throughout Africa and the world, the United States works with South Africa in response to health and environmental crises, and we continue to seek to work together to increase trade and security, create new jobs, improve infrastructure, promote human rights, and integrate markets across the continent. This program is part of that effort, because it supports the development of the next generation of leaders."

Harvey declined to disclose what the youths were trained in the US, nor comment on whether the embassy would engage the ANC or the SA government over the issue.

"We don't have anything further to add at this time," she said.

The ANC has said they will pursue diplomatic channels to complain about the US pursuit of the regime change agenda. Enditem