Read more
South African golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen are also expected to join Ramaphosa when he meets Donald Trump.
South Africa’s richest man Johann Rupert. Picture: Gallo
The inclusion of South Africa’s richest man Johann Rupert in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s delegation to meet his US counterpart, Donald Trump has been condemned by the EFF.
The much-anticipated and robust meeting between Ramaphosa and Trump is expected to take place at the White House on Wednesday at 5.30pm (CAT).
South African golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen are also expected to join Ramaphosa when he meets Trump.
While Rupert, Els and Goosen will be part of Ramaphosa’s delegation, it is understood that the South African billionaire and owner of Starlink, SpaceX and Tesla Elon Musk will not attend the highly anticipated meeting.
‘Spitting in the face of democracy’
While the EFF also condemned the inclusion of Musk, it’s understood he will not attend the meeting.
“Elon Musk and Johann Rupert are two sides of the same coin. Both are egoistical businessmen who parade their control over the presidents of these two nations and both hold a considerable stake in both of these economies,” the EFF said.
“They are both racist to the core and are opposed to transformation and equity because it threatens their ill-gotten wealth and control over the political fortunes of the United States and South Africa.
“The inclusion of Johann Rupert in a diplomatic delegation is spitting in the face of our democracy, which has grown to appreciate the need for redress in education, health care and land ownership through the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, the National Health Insurance Act and the Expropriation Act,” the red berets said.
ALSO READ: WATCH: ‘Fear not’ Ramaphosa says, as Johann Rupert and Ernie Els expected to join Trump meeting
Ramaphosa optimistic
Meanwhile, there is speculation about how the meeting will go, with fears Ramaphosa is walking into a “Zelensky-style ambush”, referring to the viral clash that took place when Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House in February.
However, Ramaphosa told journalists in Washington on Tuesday that he was hoping for “really good” discussions with Trump and his administration.
“I’m looking forward to a really good and positive meeting, and we’re looking forward to a very good outcome for our country, for our people, for the jobs in our country and good trade relations and [normalising] relations between our two countries.”
Humiliation
Ramaphosa was not fazed that he may face “humiliation” similar to the shouting match involving Trump, his deputy JD Vance and Zelensky.
“Well, South Africans are never humiliated, are they? South Africans always go into everything holding their heads high.”
Download our app
