Home
FacebookTwitterSearchMenu
  • Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • News
  • Features
  • Knowledge Library
  • Columns
  • Customs
  • Jobs
  • Directory
  • FX Rates
  • Categories
    • Categories
    • Africa
    • Air Freight
    • BEE
    • Border Beat
    • COVID-19
    • Crime
    • Customs
    • Domestic
    • Duty Calls
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy/Fuel
    • Events
    • Freight & Trading Weekly
    • Imports and Exports
    • Infrastructure
    • International
    • Logistics
    • Other
    • People
    • Road/Rail Freight
    • Sea Freight
    • Skills & Training
    • Social Development
    • Sustainability
    • Technology
    • Trade/Investment
    • Webinars
  • Contact us
    • Contact us
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Send us news
    • Editorial Guidelines
Economy

Ramaphosa’s Trump meeting a crucial moment for SA-US relations

19 May 2025 - by Staff reporter
Facing off: US President Donald Trump and his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa. Source: Al Jazeera
0 Comments

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • E-mail
  • Print

All eyes are on South African President Cyril Ramaphosa this week as he meets with US President Donald Trump in the United States, accompanied by a delegation of senior ministers.

Apart from a high-level discussion between the Heads of State in the Oval Office, Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation; Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Minister in the Presidency; John Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; and Parks Tau, Minister of Trade and Industry, will be meeting with their US counterparts.

On the US side of things, Trump will be flanked by his deputy, JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and South African expat and billionaire Elon Musk, currently head of the Trump Administration-created Department of Government Efficiency.

The meeting is widely regarded as a pivotal moment in the relationship between the two nations.

The visit is seen as an opportunity to reset and strengthen diplomatic ties, which have cooled considerably in recent years.

Analysts note that this engagement comes amid heightened tensions sparked by the US’s recent acceptance of white South African refugees under a special resettlement programme.

Last week, shortly after the first of 49 “Afrikaner refugees” arrived at Dulles Airport in Virginia, Ramaphosa told a press conference at the Nampo Harvest Day expo in the Free State that there was no persecution of Afrikaans-speaking farmers and their families.

While addressing the media, he said the people who had fled from South Africa to the US had done so because they didn’t want to be part of the process of post-Apartheid transformation, calling them “cowards”

Later that week, also while visiting the Nampo event on the outskirts of Bothaville, Ramaphosa’s deputy, Paul Mashatile, while paying his respects at a remembrance area for slain farmers and their families, seemed to be backtracking on the president’s stance.

He said the government was with the country’s agricultural community insofar as farm murders were concerned.

In addition to current trade tension between SA and the US over a number of bilateral disagreements, the issue is expected to take centre stage when Ramaphosa and Trump meet on Wednesday.

Trump and some US figures have claimed that white Afrikaner farmers in South Africa face “genocide” and persecution. These allegations have been firmly rejected by Ramaphosa’s government, which insists that such claims misrepresent the complex realities of South Africa’s racial and social dynamics.

Economic and trade discussions are expected to feature prominently on the agenda. South Africa remains the United States’ second-largest trading partner on the African continent, and President Ramaphosa is expected to push for a comprehensive trade agreement covering key sectors such as agriculture, gas, automotive and minerals.

Beyond bilateral issues, the talks are likely to touch on regional and global matters of mutual interest. South Africa currently holds the presidency of the G20 and is preparing to hand over the role to the United States later this year, adding further significance to the dialogue.

The presence of key ministers responsible for international relations, agriculture, and trade underscores the broad scope and importance of the visit.

While some observers expect the meeting to be challenging, given the sensitive nature of the refugee and land reform issues, President Ramaphosa is widely expected to maintain a composed and dignified approach to safeguard South Africa’s interests.

This high-profile meeting represents a critical juncture in South Africa-US relations, offering a chance to address misunderstandings, bolster economic ties, and enhance cooperation on global challenges.

Sign up to our mailing list and get daily news headlines and weekly features directly to your inbox free.
Subscribe to receive print copies of Freight News Features to your door.

IMO chief calls for action after UN Ocean Conference

Sea Freight

Biofouling, marine plastic litter and underwater radiated noise control came under the spotlight at the event.

1 hour ago
0 Comments

Sars clamps down on illegal fuel trade

Crime
Energy/Fuel

Adulterated fuel containing 68% paraffin has been detected during investigations.

2 hours ago
0 Comments

Trade and geopolitics on a knife edge amid Middle East conflict

Imports and Exports
Trade/Investment

It is important that Ramaphosa leaves the G7 discussions with a constructive outcome.

Yesterday
0 Comments

Horrific truck accident claims 12 on notorious ore corridor

Road/Rail Freight
Yesterday
0 Comments

Police clamp down on cross-border crime

Border Beat
Crime

A specialised police unit is making progress confronting cross-border crimes in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Yesterday
0 Comments

Schedule reliability at stake as uncertainty continues in Suez

Sea Freight

Using Suez to reach Abu Dhabi from Algeciras saves at least 10 days.

Yesterday
0 Comments

Opportunities for freight forwarders and shippers

Africa

"Many West African countries are still in the early stages of developing modern transport and logistics infrastructure." – Martin Schulze.

Yesterday
0 Comments

Mashatile urges business to invest in youth

Events
Skills & Training

The Deputy President has called on the private sector to train and hire young people.

Yesterday
0 Comments

Freighter crashes into moored vessel

Sea Freight

The master was allegedly drunk at the helm when the collision occurred in the Port of Bremen.

Yesterday
0 Comments

SA faces steep costs in Swazi lilangeni after ditching Taiwan

Logistics

South Africa, as the African anchor of BRICS, is particularly sensitive to the wishes of China.

13 Jun 2025
0 Comments

E-com drivers should deliver more than just goods – Saepa

Logistics
Technology

The role of the courier has become critical. – Garry Marshall, Saepa.

13 Jun 2025
0 Comments

Efficient logistics and supply chain solutions are essential

Africa
Logistics

Significant deposits of gold, bauxite, iron ore, lithium and other critical minerals have been found in the region.

13 Jun 2025
0 Comments
  • More

FeatureClick to view

West Africa 13 June 2025

Border Beat

Police clamp down on cross-border crime
Yesterday
Zim's anti-smuggling measures delay legitimate freight operations
06 Jun 2025
Cross-border payments remain a hurdle – Masondo
30 May 2025
More

Poll

Has South Africa's ports turned the corner?

Featured Jobs

New

Key Account Manager - Express (CPT)

Tiger Recruitment
Airport Industria
18 Jun
New

Export Co -Ordinator

Lee Botti & Associates
Cape Town
17 Jun
New

Pricing Specialist

CANEI
South Africa (Remote)
17 Jun
More Jobs
  • © Now Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Freight News RSS
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Send us news
  • Contact us