Washington DC – The U.S.-South Africa Business Council applauded this week’s announcement by South African President Thabo Mbeki that the South African government rejects the apartheid and reparations lawsuits that have been filed in U.S. courts against over 100 U.S. and foreign multinational corporations in favor of a South African reparation process under South African law.
In his address to Parliament, Mbeki stated: “We consider it completely unacceptable that matters that are central to the future of our country should be adjudicated in foreign courts which bear no responsibility for the well-being of our country and the observance of the perspective contained in our constitution of the promotion of national reconciliation.”
“PresidentMbeki has made the correct decision in rejecting the claims of trial attorneys seeking to exploit South Africa’s apartheid past and reparations issue through litigation in U.S. courts,” said Dan O’Flaherty, Executive Director of the U.S. – South Africa Business Council. “We don’t believe U.S. courts are the proper jurisdiction and therefore we support a dismissal of ATP cases. We are gratified to see that the Government of South Africa agrees.”
The U.S.-South Africa Business Council is the leading business organization on trade and investment policy issues concerning South Africa and the SACU region.
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