LIVE | Ramaphosa arrives to meet Trump at the White House
US President Donald Trump welcomes South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to the White House in Washington, DC, on May 21, 2025. Ramaphosa meets Trump amid tensions over Washington's resettlement of white Afrikaners that the US president claims are the victims of "genocide."
Image: Mandel NGAN / AFP
President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump are meeting at the White House in Washington DC in a bid to reset and revitalise bilateral relations between the countries.
"In this regard, the visit will focus specifically on reframing bilateral, economic and commercial relations," the Presidency said.
Joining them will be celebrated golfing icons Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, as well as South African billionaire Johann Rupert.
According to reports, Rupert, who has been intricately involved in bringing this meeting to fruition, said Els also played a significant role in persuading Trump to welcome the South African delegation.
The meeting, expected to last for two hours, is being touted as crucial for South Africa's future, not only in terms of economic ties but also in the context of a potentially contentious discussion surrounding the country’s Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) legislation.
Possible agenda
- Afrikaners in the US
- Tariff and funding cuts
- SA's case against Israel at ICJ
- Ukraine, Russian conflict
- Elon Musk's Starlink and Teslas in SA
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