Ramaphosa ready for his meeting with Trump to reset US-SA relations
A jovial looking Ramaphosa arrived in Washington Monday afternoon. He has to discount race-based disinformation that seeks to paint the majority as a pariah.
FILE: President Cyril Ramaphosa answered questions in the National Assembly on 11 March 2025. Picture: Phando Jikelo/Parliament
WASHINGTON - President Cyril Ramaphosa's office says he's ready for Wednesday's meeting with United States (US) President Donald Trump in which he aims to reset relations between South Africa and the US.
A jovial-looking Ramaphosa arrived in Washington Monday afternoon.
His spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said this is an opportunity to refocus trade relations.
He added that the country wants the benefits of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) extended and to continue benefiting from them.
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Ramaphosa is expected to sit down with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday in what could turn out to be a confrontation over South Africa’s race polices and bilateral trade relations.@tshidi_lee #SAUSBilaterals
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) May 19, 2025
Magwenya told journalists that South Africa would be ready to outline a new trade relationship framework if things change.
Ramaphosa, much like his hero, Tatu' Nelson Mandela, in 1990, will have to speak to race relations while in America
THE DIFFERENCE?
Madiba was speaking of a country trying to build a nation following apartheid.
Ramaphosa has to discount race-based disinformation that seeks to paint the majority as a pariah.
But his spokesperson Magwenya said this will not be the core of talks with US President Trump on Wednesday.
"The whole world knows there's no such thing as a persecution of a particular race in South Africa, don't need to spend any effort dispelling something that is well-known that it's not there."
Ramaphosa is the first African president to be hosted by Trump.
The Daily Maverick is reporting that its billionaire, Johann Rupert, who greased the wheels for Ramaphosa with some in the president's camp, suggesting Rupert might be by the president's side come Wednesday.