The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has rejected the US State Department’s Human Rights Country Report on South Africa as inaccurate and deeply flawed.

The US State Department has released its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, including one for South Africa.

In the report, the US alleges that the human rights situation in South Africa significantly worsened during the year, citing reports of arbitrary and unlawful killings, arbitrary arrest or detention, and the repression of racial minorities.

In a lengthy statement released by DIRCO, the Ministry registered its profound disappointment with the US report and pointed to what it viewed as human rights deficiencies in the United States in a sharp repudiation.

The DIRCO statement affirms South Africa’s institutions designed to protect the country’s democracy, including Chapter 9 institutions, which it says were constitutionally mandated to protect and advance human rights.

DIRCO accuses the United States of seeking to “produce one-sided fact-free reports without due process or engagement”, pointing to the irony of what it called significant and documented concerns about human rights within the United States.

This includes the treatment of refugees and breaches in due process by its own agencies, such as the federal immigration enforcement agency known as ICE.

DIRCO says it remained open to addressing what it calls “distortions” through diplomatic channels.

Meanwhile, South Africa will submit a revised trade deal offer to Washington as it tries to lower the 30% tariff imposed on its exports to the United States.

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau and Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen gave an update on the country’s efforts to mitigate against the imposed tariffs.

The US accounts for 7.5% of the country’s global exports, as talks continue with a view to concluding a deal that advances the interests of both countries.

The ministers also announced that the country has resolved key US trade concerns on poultry, blueberries and pork.

VIDEO | SA to offer US a revised trade deal: