Ramaphosa expects to be accorded highest levels of decorum in Trump meeting - Ntshavheni

CAPE TOWN - Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said that President Cyril Ramaphosa expects a "level of decorum" when he engages in high-level talks with US President Donald Trump.

Ntshavheni said that Ramaphosa and Trump may differ on issues around trade and South African domestic affairs, but he doesn’t anticipate any mistreatment or embarrassment when the two meet in Washington next week.

Ntshavheni addressed a post-Cabinet briefing in Pretoria on Thursday.

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President Ramaphosa and his US counterpart will hold highly anticipated talks next week amid tensions over false claims of Afrikaner persecution in the country.

Their meeting will also come a week after 49 Afrikaners left the country, bound for the US, after being granted refugee status by the Trump administration.

Minister Ntshavheni said that despite the tensions, they expected a constructive engagement.

"So there is no one who invites a guest to mistreat them. So, we are expecting the highest level of decorum and necessary protocols to be accorded."

Ntshavheni said that the two would also discuss trade and try to find common ground, with Ramaphosa set to present a trade "package" to the US.

"As the president has indicated, there will be deal. We will offer a package."

In April, Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on trading partners, including a 30% tax on South Africa, before pausing them for 90 days.