President Cyril Ramaphosa has jetted off to the United States of America on his Presidential Jet, Inkwazi, where he will meet with US President Donald Trump in a bid to restore the strategic relationship between the two countries.
The President will have an audience with Trump at the White House on Wednesday, 21 May, where they will discuss “bilateral, regional and global issues of interest.”
🇿🇦His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa is leaving for the United States of America where he is embarking on a working visit from 19- 22 May 2025.
The President will meet President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington DC to discuss bilateral, regional and global… pic.twitter.com/GhWJnCmaxr
— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) May 18, 2025
And while Ramaphosa has insisted that trade is top of the agenda, the spectre of a “white genocide” in South Africa, which has falsely spread online, could become the elephant in the room.
President @CyrilRamaphosa spoke to members of the media earlier today ahead of his working visit to the United States to meet with President Trump. pic.twitter.com/hJpQPLLO3y
— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) May 17, 2025
Trump has repeatedly claimed that white Afrikaners are being ‘treated badly’ in South Africa, that farmers are being murdered en masse, and that their land is being confiscated.
The American President has offered refuge to this minority group, while excluding any refugees from truly war-torn countries.
READ: Ramaphosa & Trump weigh in on Afrikaner refugees
South Africa has been subjected to a months-long “info-war”, which included anonymous influencer accounts, fake networks, and powerful voices like Trump and Musk, that have been amplifying disinformation peddling untrue narratives of “white genocide,” “land grabs,” and collapse.
The false narratives about a genocide are not a reflection of who we are as a nation and during our working visit to the U.S. we will be advancing a proudly South African message. pic.twitter.com/x1MI8N76bt
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) May 16, 2025
WATCH: Ramaphosa: Running away from South Africa a ‘cowardly act’
Four ministers, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, International Relations Minister, Ronald Lamola, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, and Trade, Industry & Competition Minister, Parks Tau are joining Ramaphosa on this trip.
Steenhuisen says the highest issue on his priority list will be securing trade relations between the US and SA, particularly in agriculture, to protect jobs, grow the economy and expand employment opportunities.
“South Africa’s relationship with the United States is one of immense importance. Preferential trade agreements such as AGOA contribute significantly to our economy. Losing these benefits would be disastrous for farmers, farm workers and the economy at large.”
At the same time, Steenhuisen says South Africa cannot pretend that the country is not facing unique challenges.
“This delegation to Washington DC represents all South Africans, who have entrusted us to put the shared national interests, and desire for economic growth and job creation first, ahead of any party, or ideological positions.”
Former politician and National Party CODESA negotiator Roelf Meyer told Netwerk24 that he is sure Ramaphosa will be able to stand his ground in the White House.
READ: EFF slams Ramaphosa’s US trip, warns of Trump ’embarrassment’
