Could Elon Musk be South Africa's Trump card in healing tension with the US?

702's Bongani Bingwa is joined by EWN political editor Tshidi Madia in Washington.

Listen below:

It's the most important diplomatic test of his presidency.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has landed in the United States (US) ahead of his much-anticipated meeting with his US counterpart, Donald Trump.

It's a case of diplomacy on a knife-edge, given the soured relations between the two countries in recent months.

ALSO READ: Cyril Ramaphosa heads to Washington to meet with Donald Trump

"You can feel that there's cautious optimism, a lot of anxiety, some scepticism."

Tshidi Madia, Political Editor - EWN

Madia says the South African delegation, which includes Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen, has played things clever.

She explains that they met with the Qatari delegation that helped facilitate the 'big schmooze' between the Qataris and Trump in the Middle East last week.

"People don't want the Zelensky treatment, or even the Mark Carney treatment, where he was talked down to."

- Tshidi Madia, Political Editor - EWN

ALSO READ: Trump meeting: ‘Cyril Ramaphosa cannot show weakness’ – Andre Vlok, conflict specialist

Key to the mending of the relationship may be Trump's ally, the South African-born billionaire Elon Musk.

But it will be quid pro quo – from easing licensing requirements for Musk’s Starlink to slashing tariffs on his Tesla cars – very little is off the table, suggests Bingwa.

"... Elon Musk is not someone we see as a friend, based on his utterances and posts on social media  - so he does feel like a foe."

- Tshidi Madia, Political Editor - EWN

Musk aside, Madia suggests the key to a successful meeting between the two leaders rests with Ramaphosa meeting Trump where he is.

"What the president needs to do is approach Trump like a businessman. Billionaire to billionaire, businessman to businessman. You're trying to cut deals."

- Tshidi Madia, Political Editor - EWN

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