Over the past 24 hours or so, wandering albatrosses from both sides of the Atlantic have sought advice on what might be done to fix relations between the two countries after United States (US) Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, announced the first of what US Ambassador to South Africa, L Brent Bozell III, said would be a series of escalatory sanctions against figures and institutions within South Africa.

While some figures are running around hysterically trying to hire lobbyists, threatening retribution or permanent isolation, and alleging all manner of wild conspiracies, this newspaper has offered a still, small voice of calm that a very simple heads of agreement memo from South Africa’s Ambassador to Washington, Roelf Meyer, submitted with his government’s backing, to his American friends would get things back on track. The albatrosses have asked that this great work of diplomacy be prepared and presented and at what cost and over how many months. It is much easier than that, and the memo follows below – on the house, because at The Common Sense we really care that this thing gets sorted out.

Heads of Agreement Between South Africa and the United States

The following terms will form a reciprocal agreement on investment, property protection, rural security, and diplomatic cooperation towards improved relations between the US and South Africa.

BEE and American Investment

South Africa will guarantee qualifying American firms access to equity-equivalent investment programmes on the same terms available to other multinational investors. Approved contributions to skills, enterprise development, and research would substitute for equity transfers or other mandated racial criteria, with published qualification criteria and fixed approval deadlines. In exchange, US and South African authorities will convene their private sector peers to propose a series of bilateral investment projects.

Expropriation and Property Rights

South Africa will bring its Expropriation Act back before Parliament to be amended in order to provide that no movable or immovable property may be expropriated for less than market value, given that this would be consistent with what is just and equitable in any free society.

Farm Killings and Rural Security

South Africa will establish a public-private partnership involving local police, prosecutors, farming organisations, and accredited security and forensic specialists to investigate and curb rural killings and attacks. Its mandate would include reviewing unresolved cases, strengthening investigations, coordinating information, and improving emergency response and prevention. Protection would extend to farmers, workers, and their families. Local police would retain operational command and statutory powers, with agreed US technical assistance.

Transatlantic Pact Forum

South Africa and the US will jointly propose a consultative Transatlantic Pact Forum with Argentina and the United Kingdom. Annual ministerial meetings would rotate between Pretoria, Washington, London, and Buenos Aires, supported by working groups on common security and economic interests. The agenda would include maritime and port security, organised crime, cybersecurity, trade, investment, and critical supply chains. Each meeting would agree practical joint projects and exchanges between government, security institutions, and business.

Reciprocity and Implementation

Both governments will appoint implementation leads within 30 days, agree measurable milestones and timelines, and hold a formal review after 90 days.

That is all it will take. It should have been done a year ago. And of course both sides must try and stick to it. Do that, and both sides win big for their economies and the best interests of their people.