South African political parties and trade unions have strongly condemned reports of a United States military intervention in Venezuela under President Donald Trump, warning that such actions violate international law and undermine national sovereignty.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema expressed solidarity with Venezuela in a post on social media platform X, stating: “We are with the people of Venezuela.”
Rise Mzansi leader Zongeso Zibi also criticised the reported intervention, arguing that any US military operation conducted without congressional approval would be unlawful even under American law.
“International law prohibits one country from attacking another to enforce regime change. A country’s president must be replaced through democratic elections, not a coup,” Zibi said.
He further warned against what he described as the use of misinformation to justify military action, drawing a historical parallel to Nazi Germany.
“When the Holocaust under Adolf Hitler began, it started with a torrent of lies. What we are seeing now follows a similar pattern,” Zibi added.
The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) issued a strongly worded statement condemning what it described as an “illegal military assault” by the United States on Venezuela.
According to SAFTU, reports from multiple international media outlets indicate that US forces launched strikes inside Venezuela and that President Trump announced the capture and removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Venezuelan authorities have reportedly said they have lost contact with the couple and are demanding proof of life.
“This is not diplomacy. This is not law enforcement. It is naked aggression and regime-change warfare,” SAFTU said, expressing grave concern for the safety of Maduro and Flores.
Background and context
Venezuela has for more than a decade been at the centre of geopolitical tensions between the United States and governments aligned with the late President Hugo Chávez’s Bolivarian revolution. Washington has long accused the Maduro administration of authoritarianism, human rights abuses and electoral manipulation, while Venezuela and its allies have accused the US of economic warfare and interference in its internal affairs.
The United States has imposed sweeping sanctions on Venezuela since 2015, targeting its oil sector, government officials and financial institutions. Caracas and several international critics have blamed these measures for exacerbating Venezuela’s economic crisis, marked by hyperinflation, fuel shortages and mass emigration.
Reactions from South African labour movements have also been shaped by past US-led or NATO-backed interventions in countries such as Iraq and Libya. SAFTU cited these cases as cautionary examples, arguing that foreign military intervention led to state collapse, prolonged instability and the deaths of national leaders.
“The lesson is simple: imperialism does not remove leaders, it destroys societies,” the federation said.
In a separate media alert issued on 3 January 2026, the General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA) similarly condemned what it termed acts of “imperialist aggression” against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
GIWUSA denounced alleged US military attacks, the seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers and claims by President Trump regarding the kidnapping of President Maduro, describing them as violations of Venezuelan sovereignty and acts of terrorism.
“These actions are part of a long history of imperialist intervention aimed at punishing nations that choose a path independent of Washington,” the union said.
The union further called on workers locally and internationally to mobilise in solidarity with Venezuela, arguing that global conflicts are often driven by competition over natural resources, particularly oil.
South Africa has historically positioned itself as a proponent of multilateralism and non-interference, with the governing African National Congress and allied labour movements frequently opposing unilateral military action by powerful states.
As tensions continue to escalate, political parties and labour organisations have urged the South African government and the international community to prioritise dialogue, uphold international law and ensure the protection of civilian lives.
