Will Trump embarrass SA at White House meeting?

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has denied suggestions US President Donald Trump may attempt to make a fool of South Africa when he meets a delegation from our country next week.

On Wednesday, the Presidency confirmed that President Cyril Ramaphosa would embark on a working visit to the USA from 19 to 22 May 2025.

Ramaphosa will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, 21 May, to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of interest.

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Despite tensions between the two countries, Ntshavheni said the government expects the “highest level of decorum” when they meet US President Donald Trump.

“We are not going to the US on our own; we have been invited by President Trump. He’s the one who made a public announcement that he is going to meet with us next week,” said Ntshavheni.

“There is no one who invites a guest to mistreat them, so we are expecting the highest level of decorum and necessary protocols to be accorded. It doesn’t mean we’ll agree on all matters. We will differ, but we believe that our relationship with the US is mutually beneficial. There are more than 600 US companies here. South Africa is also invested in the US.”

SA-US relations

Relations between South Africa and the US have been on shaky ground amid false claims of a white genocide from the Trump administration and the signing of the Expropriation Bill.

On Sunday, a charter plane carrying 49 Afrikaners who were granted refugee status by the Trump administration to save them from the “terrible things that are happening in South Africa” departed.

Ntshavheni said on Thursday that the government could not confirm if another group would depart.

“It’s not our job to be briefing on when they’re moving. You must go to [AfriForum CEO] Mr Kallie Kriel, Solidarity and those groupings for those updates. Our job is to make sure that when they leave, they don’t leave any debt or crime in the country,” said Ntshavheni.

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“We all know the reasons they are leaving are not true. As the Cabinet, we express the view that they do not meet the criteria for refugee status, and there is no violence against farmers. Check that list and check how many of those people are actual farmers because the argument is that there is a genocide against farmers in South Africa.”

Ramaphosa and Trump meeting expectations

In February, the world watched as Trump and his deputy, JD Vance, humiliated Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a bilateral meeting televised live in the Oval Office.

Since then, there have been fears that Ramaphosa may suffer the same fate.

However, Ntshavheni said the South African delegation had nothing to fear regarding the treatment they may receive from Trump.

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“We’re not worried. We’re confident that the invitation comes from a good place of engagement clarification. South Africa has, over the years, demonstrated that we are a sovereign state, and we respect our sovereignty and take it very seriously. Remember our president has committed that we will not be bullied, we remain in that mode.”

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