'Extraordinary' White House meeting: Ramaphosa holds his own as Donald Trump plays Malema clips

The Money Show's Stephen Grootes is joined by Professor Bonang Mohale, former president of Business Unity South Africa.

The much-anticipated meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and US counterpart Donald Trump is hitting local and international headlines.

In the White House, Trump maintained his stance in Ramaphosa's presence that Afrikaner people are being targeted in a genocide in South Africa.

The Presidency has characterised the working visit by Ramaphosa and his delegation as an opportunity to reset the strained relations between the two countries.

During the meeting, the US leader went to the extent of having clips played that show EFF leader Julius Malema singing the controversial song 'Kill the Boer'.

Ramaphosa reiterated that there is no white genocide in South Africa.

Asked by the press what it would take for Trump to believe this, Ramaphosa said it would be listening to the voices of South Africans, including 'Trump's good friends', in the room with him.

The South African delegation included top golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, as well as Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen.

"I’m not going to be repeating what I’m saying. If there was an Afrikaner genocide, these three men would not be here, including my Agriculture Minister."

President Cyril Ramaphosa

One lesson he learned from the presidential encounter, says former Business Unity SA president Prof. Bonang Mohale, is that South Africa is not among the top five things keeping Trump awake at night.

"I think it's a classical case of, seek first to understand BEFORE you're understood."

Prof. Bonang Mohale, Former BUSA president

"What with two global wars, Trump has substantially increased uncertainty... the trade wars where tariffs have become a new currency.at the back of weakening the US consumer, where globalisation has not benefited the US middle class... where the country is at its most borrowed in history and driven by deficits."

Prof. Bonang Mohale, Former BUSA president

Trump's problem is his own country, not anything back on South African shores, says Professor Mohale.

"Now we want to convince somebody who has clearly made up his mind... We are just collateral; we should have been clear as daylight, that's what we needed."

Prof. Bonang Mohale, Former BUSA president

Listen to the conversation in the interview audio at the top of the article (skip to 11:37)