President Cyril Ramaphosa is in Washington from Wednesday, yesterday, meeting with United States President Donald Trump to resolve significant differences of varying degrees in relations between South Africa and the US. Ramaphosa who is taking a large delegation of ministers and advisors, is aiming to make a new trade agreement with Trump. Ramaphosa hopes to appeal to the fiery and charismatic Trump’s business acumen. Trump has sought to impose heavy tariffs on South Africa and welcomed forty-nine white Afrikaner South Africans as “refugees”.
Crime statistics show no evidence that white people are disproportionately targeted. The land reform law allows judicial challenges to any expropriation orders, which can only be issued in the public interest. No expropriation has taken place. Ramaphosa headed the African National Congress’s negotiating team during the 1990s talks that led to apartheid’s peaceful end, winning grudging respect from the last white president, F.W. de Klerk, who spoke of his “silver tongue and honeyed phrases”. He will need those gifts to win over Trump, but may also rely on his background as a rich businessman who built one of the biggest Black-owned investment vehicles in South Africa before becoming president in 2018. “He is an international businessman, and I think that he must put that side of his personality first,” said Jan Venter, lecturer in politics and international relations at South Africa’s North-West University.
Ramaphosa may have built up his fortune whereas Trump inherited much of his, but here Ramaphosa must rely on his skills as a negotiator now more than ever to persuade Trump to see South Africa as an essential business partner as well as an ally. Ramaphosa earned his spurs combating the authoritarian grip of the apartheid regime. Now he stands an opportunity to make or break his presidency by striking a deal with the most shady, flamboyant and bombastic of American presidents. Will Ramaphosa succeed when the odds are inevitably stacked against his favour? Can he persuade Trump – a notable con artist – to accept a trade agreement that is fare to both South Africa – if trump desires it – and the US? Ramaphosa must rely on all his skill as a businessman to persuade Trump to be reasonable and not fall for his tricks and manipulations.
“The trade relations between South Africa and the United States will be the focus of my working visit here. We aim to strengthen and consolidate relations between our two countries,” he said. Ahead of Ramaphosa and Trump’s meeting Wednesday, South Africa’s government plans to offer Pretoria-born billionaire Elon Musk — a Trump ally — a workaround of local Black-ownership laws for his Starlink internet service to operate in the country, aiming to ease tensions. Asked if South Africa was at risk of making too many concessions to reach a trade deal for its automotive, critical-mineral and agricultural industries, Ramaphosa said that wasn’t the case. “We preserve our sovereignty and we will always do what is best for South Africans,” he said.
“We are going to have an opportunity to discuss geopolitical issues, not only Israel, but also Ukraine, and all these matters will be on the table for proper discussion, and we are very rational when it comes to discussing global and geopolitical matters.” Among the politicians accompanying Ramaphosa on the visit is John Steenhuisen, leader of the Democratic Alliance and agriculture minister in the coalition government formed last year after May elections failed to produce an outright winner.
Ramaphosa is going to encounter many obstacles in negotiating a fair-trade deal with Trump. Ramaphosa and his delegation of ministers and aids need to be aware that Trump’s motives in singling out South Africa with his trade tariffs and welcoming South African white farmers are politically orientated. President Ramaphosa must be weary of Trump’s traps. Trump is still and will always be very much loyal to Israel first. This means he wants Ramaphosa and his government to drop the charges of genocide against the Zionist regime of Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu in the International Court of Justice in the Hague, the Netherlands. Ramaphosa needs to also be weary of Musk and his business interests. The seemingly eccentric billionaire may be a tech innovator but he is also a businessman who seeks to line his own pockets.
Ramaphosa for his part is looking forward to this meeting with Trump. However, Ramaphosa needs to be on his guard and not let Trump gain the upper hand in the conversation. Ramaphosa certainly wants peace between the Israelis and Palestinians as well as between Russia and Ukraine but he needs to persuade Trump to see reason. An end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Russia Ukraine war may be in South Africa’s best interests. However, there are those in the Government of National Unity like John Steenhuisen who want to see the ICJ case dropped. Ramaphosa needs to be weary of those with in the GNU and those far from with out trying to undermine his presidency. This meeting with Trump is a make or break.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
