South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will begin his state’s visit to the United States on Monday, explaining his government is an attempt to “reset” relations between the two countries.
The visit comes days after the US welcomed a group of 59 South African “refugees” who claim that President Donald Trump is being persecuted in South Africa for their race and are facing “genocide.” They are allowed to fly to the US on a special relocation plan and settle there.
The Ramaphosa government has denied these allegations, saying that white people who own more than 70% of the land, despite making up only 7% of the population, are not discriminated against.
In a statement, Ramaphosa’s office said the two leaders would discuss “bilateral” and “global issues of interest.” The White House has not yet issued a statement about the meeting.
This is the first time Trump has hosted an African leader in the White House since he took office in January. South Africa, which currently hosts the G20, will hand over its leadership to the US in November.
This is the expected meeting timeline and the breakdown of the main issues that are most likely to cause tension and surface.
When is the meeting?
Ramaphosa travels on Monday, May 19th and meets with Trump at the White House on Wednesday, May 21st.
His office did not share the topic of discussion, but said “the president’s visit to the United States provides a platform for resetting strategic ties between the two countries.”
The agenda is expected to include white South Africans in Ukraine and Gaza, aid cuts and the handling of ongoing war.
What will Trump and Ramaphosa discuss?
The agenda is expected to include the following subjects:
Treatment for white South Africans
The issue of relations between South Africa’s historically favorable white population and the black-led government of Ramaphosa is the most subtle government between the two governments.
The White Africans are descendants of Dutch colonists who, until 1990, ruled the country under the apartheid system, which separated and excluded the majority of black people. Many of the nation’s most successful business leaders and farm owners are still white. More than half of the black population is classified as poor.
Trump and his billionaire ally, South African-born Elon Musk, have sternly criticised the Ramaphosa administration for criticizing the poor treatment of these white people in the country after Ramaphosa signed an expropriation law law that allowed the government to confiscate land. The law signed in January allows expropriation from landowners for redistribution to marginalized groups such as women and disabled people.
Some African groups say the law could allow their land to be redistributed to some of the country’s black majority.
Trump highlights allegations by a group of white South Africans who fear their land will be seized. The group also states that white farmers face an uneven number of violent attacks, which led to several deaths and “genocide.”
The South African government has denied that there is genocide and says the attacks are part of the broader crime problem. Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, the Ivory Coast on May 13, Ramaphosa said the US government “has a wrong end of the stick” as South Africa suffers overall at a high rate of violent crime, regardless of the victims’ competition. Both white and black farmers are targeted in farm attacks where armed criminals assault, robbed and sometimes killed farm workers in normal, remote areas.
Meanwhile, Musk, the founder of internet company Starlink, blames the government for failing to launch in South Africa due to the Black Empowerment Act, which requires large corporations and businesses seeking government contracts to be owned by marginalized groups such as black people.
In a March post on the X social media platform, Musk said Starlink is not allowed to be released “as I’m not black.” Authorities denied the allegations and said the country’s business laws were intended as correct and historical errors.
Reducing tariffs and aid on South Africa
Since re-entering the White House in January, Trump has implemented the triple wonder of economic policies that have hit South Africa hard.
The first was a drastic cut in aid announced by the US after Trump signed an executive order suspending foreign aid for all countries for at least 90 days.
It disrupts funding for South Africa’s treatment and research for deadly infectious diseases like HIV. South Africa has the largest number of people living with HIV in the world, and up until then the US provided about 18% of the government’s HIV budget. In 2023, the US provided $462 million in HIV aid. Since January, some HIV treatment programs have remained cut, while others have recovered funding, but how many are unknown.
In February, Trump ordered South Africa to specifically cut additional financial aid for what he said was “unfair racism,” citing allegedly confiscated white-owned land. He also cited the submission of the South African genocide case against Israel regarding the war with Gaza at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December 2023. No further aid reductions were made public.
Finally, South Africa was also hit by Trump’s tariff war. The country was slapped in April with 30% tariff on all items. An additional 25% tariff was placed on South African vehicles entering the US, bringing the extra charge for the vehicle to 55%.
Ramaphosa described Trump’s actions as “punitive” and said tariffs “act as a barrier to sharing trade and prosperity.”
Trump suspended mutual tariffs for most countries (including South Africa) for 90 days on April 9th, but the South African government hopes to drop tariffs forever. South Africa is also facing a baseline 10% tariff on goods Trump has imposed on all countries.
The United States is South Africa’s second largest bilateral trading partner, after China. Under the Tax-Free Africa Growth Opportunity Act, introduced in 2000, South Africa sells precious stones, iron products and cars to the United States, and in return buys crude oil, electrical products and aircraft.
The AnyA framework, which includes 32 African countries, has been updated this year, but it is unclear whether Trump’s White House will follow suit.
Israeli-Gaza ICJ Incident and the Gaza War
The South African government filed a genocide lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on December 29, 2023, denounced “genocide” on the rage of Israeli allies and major weapons suppliers, the United States, during the attack on Gaza.
The groundbreaking incident was the first lawsuit against Israel in the ongoing war in Gaza, highlighting the voices and visible support for the Palestinian cause of African countries. The hearing began in January 2024. In March 2024, the ICJ issued an emergency order to ensure Israel delivers food aid to Gaza and stops attacks in Rafa.
Joe Biden and the US Trump administration are both opposed to South Africa’s moves, with Trump denounceing Pretoria’s “aggression.” On February 7th, Donald Trump signed an executive order to suspend aid to the country. The order cited the ICJ incident, the issue of Africans and allegations of cooperation with Iran to develop South African nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, South Africa has pledged to not withdraw its lawsuit despite this backlash. Foreign Minister Ronald Lamora told the Financial Times in February that the country “has no chance” to retreat.
“Staying on our principles sometimes has consequences, but we are solidly aware that this is important to the world and the rule of law,” he said.
Ukraine-Russia War
Trump and Ramaphosa are also expected to discuss peace and mediation efforts in the Ukraine-Russia war, as representatives from both countries are holding talks for the first time since the war began in February 2022.
The Trump administration has played a leading role in mediating between Russia and Ukraine. During the campaign, Trump promised to negotiate the end of the war “within 24 hours” if elected. But much of that effort, while considered offensive, has come flat. Ukrainian President Voldy Mie Zelensky’s visit to the US to the US ended with Trump and his deputy, J.D. Vance, who cried out to guests in February this year.
Meanwhile, South Africa chose to remain neutral in the conflict and called for inter-face dialogue. The country is a historic ally of Russia in support of the former Soviet Union during apartheid. Both have founded members of the growing BRICS Alliance of Economies alongside India, Brazil and China.
South Africa has not condemned Russia or Putin for Ukrainian invasions and is on the verge of such a UN resolution.
At the same time, Pretoria remained friendly with Ukraine. In April, Ramaphosa hosted Zelenkie during a state visit, during which they discussed increased trade and ongoing war. Ukrainian leaders sought more pressure on Moscow.
Hours before Zelensky met Ramaphosa, the South African leader said he had spoken to Trump on the phone, and both agreed that the war needed to halt.