Presidency rebuke puts Froneman's state role under scrutiny

The presidency’s rebuke of Neal Froneman has placed a prominent businessman’s role in a flagship government-partnership initiative under scrutiny, raising questions about who participates in state-business collaboration and on what terms. Froneman, the former Sibanye-Stillwater chief executive, has since softened his position on US action against individuals behind South African policies, saying his remarks may have created an unintended impression. He did not explicitly withdraw his call to target individuals, nor say whether he would step away from the partnership.

The dispute began with comments Froneman made during a BizNews interview about his effort to bring Formula One back to South Africa. He said he had been asked whether tensions between Pretoria and Washington, including differences over foreign policy, could affect the proposed Western Cape project. In that interview, he argued that the private sector should be spared the consequences of the diplomatic dispute.

“The private sector and the majority of South Africans are not the problem, and therefore, don’t punish business in South Africa,” he said. “Rather, target those individuals that continue to drive policies that are not supported by the majority of South Africans.” He cited expropriation without compensation, foreign policy and South Africa’s support for Iran.

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya responded sharply, describing Froneman’s approach to South Africa’s disputes with Washington as “unpatriotic and destructive”. “He is a successful businessman, for which we respect him. But he is not a diplomat,” Magwenya told Business Day. “As to his role in the government and business partnership, one would expect he will withdraw his participation now that he is at odds with the government.”

Froneman’s response, delivered to Business Day, sought to reframe the remarks. “I recognise that my reference to targeting individuals could, without the broader context, have created an unintended impression,” he said. “My intention was simply to emphasise the importance of protecting South Africa’s economic interests, investment and jobs from the consequences of policy disagreements between governments.”

He also defended his commitment to the country, saying it included speaking out on difficult issues. “As a patriot, I remain deeply committed to contributing to South Africa’s efforts to address inequality, strengthen the rule of law and accountability, and promote economic growth and job creation, even where that requires raising uncomfortable issues,” he said.

The partnership at the centre of the row is a formal structure launched in its third phase by President Cyril Ramaphosa in August. That phase aims to lift annual economic growth above 3% and create a million jobs by 2030, adding mining, tourism, infrastructure and agriculture to earlier work on energy and logistics. Froneman helps lead business’s contribution to the partnership’s crime and corruption workstream, which supports efforts to strengthen law enforcement and tackle organised crime.

His standing in that structure is now an open question. Froneman retired as Sibanye CEO in September 2025 after leading the group for 12 years. He now chairs Copper 360 and Business Against Crime South Africa, and leads a consortium seeking to bring Formula One to the Western Cape.

Meanwhile, Business for South Africa, the organised-business body involved in the partnership, has moved to contain the fallout. Steering committee chair Martin Kingston told Business Day that the organisation was engaging the relevant parties and remained committed to the partnership’s third phase.

The row unfolds against a broader deterioration in relations between South Africa and the United States, amid President Donald Trump’s false claims of white persecution and disputes over land reform and foreign policy. In September, Washington announced visa restrictions targeting people it accused of involvement in discriminatory policies, uncompensated land seizures or incitement to violence against minorities. It named no individuals.

Pretoria rejected Washington’s account of its policies, saying they sought to address historical racial injustice. The international relations & co-operation department said differences between the countries should be resolved through diplomatic engagement and respect for South Africa’s sovereignty.

Whether Froneman remains within the partnership, and on what conditions, remains unresolved. His statement stopped short of a retraction, and the presidency has made its expectation of withdrawal clear, leaving the governance of the business-government collaboration to be settled between the parties.