South African President Cyril Ramaphosa traveled to Washington on Tuesday to persuade US President Donald Trump to conclude trade agreements with his country instead of isolating and punishing it. This was reported by Reuters, citing official sources, BTA reports.
Since the beginning of his second term, Trump has intensified criticism of South Africa, attacking the land reform law aimed at overcoming the legacy of apartheid and reacting sharply to the case filed by Pretoria against Israel for genocide. As a result, the US cut off some funding for the country, recalled its ambassador and offered asylum to members of the white minority, citing discrimination. The South African government has dismissed the allegations as baseless.
“Whether we like it or not, we have to have a dialogue,” Ramaphosa said in an interview with state television shortly before flying to meet Trump at the White House.
Ramaphosa's delegation includes members of the government, business magnate Johan Rupert - founder of the luxury group Richemont, which owns brands such as Cartier - as well as world-famous golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.
On the American side, the meeting will be attended by Vice President J.D. Vance and South African-born entrepreneur Elon Musk, who has repeatedly criticized Ramaphosa's policies towards the white minority.
South African media noted that it was Rupert and Els who played a key role in organizing the meeting, as both have personal ties to Trump and have played with him golf.
Ramaphosa is expected to propose a broad trade deal, including the possibility of duty-free imports of Elon Musk's Tesla electric cars into South Africa.