Ramaphosa meets Trump: Will Steenhuisen speak out on race-based laws?

DA leader John Steenhuisen could be compelled by his constituency to speak about his party’s position on race-based laws in the U.S.

This is the view of political analyst Theo Neethling from the University of Free State (UFS).

The leader of the blue party is part of a South African delegation in Washington to meet with Donald Trump and other White House representatives.

This meeting will take place on Wednesday and is meant to ease tensions between the Trump administration and Pretoria.

Steenhuisen’s priorities

Steenhuisen said on Monday that he would raise a number of priority points in his engagements with the Trump administration.

However, there was no mention of the DA’s views on race-based views, which are part of the decaying relationship between the Trump administration and South Africa.

“The highest issues on my priority list will be securing trade relations between the US and SA, particularly in agriculture, to protect jobs, grow the economy and expand employment opportunities,” he said.

Steenhuisen described himself as a proud member of the Government of National Unity (GNU) and claimed all those in the travelling party were putting country before party interests.

“This delegation to Washington represents all South Africans, who have entrusted us to put the shared national interests and desire for economic growth and job creation first, ahead of any party or ideological positions,” he said.

Will he speak on race-based laws?

However, Neethling said Steenhuisen is in a difficult position and may have to respond to tough questions from the White House.

“Steenhuisen is in a difficult position if he says nothing about race-based laws and expropriation. These are things that the DA feels very strongly about.

“If he comes back without saying anything about these issues, he might face some criticism from his constituencies. So, he could face criticism from within the DA and Afrikaners as such,” he said.

Neethling said silence would help Ramaphosa’s aim for unity at the meetings.

“The president will obviously want a united team as they go into any meeting. I am sure that they will speak before meeting the Trump administration,” he said.

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Token white?

Neethling dismissed claims that Steehuisen is going into high-level bilateral meetings with the Trump administration as a “token” white politician.

He said Steenhuisen’s role as the Minister of Agriculture was very important in the White House engagements.

“I believe John Steenhuisen will focus on agricultural issues and work towards a new AGOA agreement representing the agricultural sector.

“I do not think Steenhuisen is going there as a token white person. The president was quite clever here because he is taking Steenhuisen as the leader of the opposition within the GNU as well, so this adds inclusivity to the delegation.”

Steenhuisen will be joined by the international relations minister, Ronald Lamola, Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Pretoria’s special envoy to the US, Mcebi Jonas, and Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau.

The meeting comes as 49 Afrikaners from South Africa begin their new lives in the US as refugees.

The Trump administration has granted them refugee status after false reports that there is a genocide of white people in South Africa, especially Afrikaner farmers.

Trump accused South Africa of doing terrible things to ethnic minorities in the country. A claim denied by the SA government.

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