The recent working visit between Cyril Ramaphosa and Donald Trump was marked by tension and uncomfortable moments, as the two leaders discussed the contentious issue of land reforms and the alleged genocide against white farmers in South Africa.
For months, the two parties have been at odds over the conversation on land reforms, with Trump raising concerns about the safety of white farmers in the country. During the meeting, Ramaphosa tried to address these concerns by showing Trump a video of Julius Malema, the leader of South Africa’s opposition party, calling for violence against white farmers. Despite Ramaphosa’s efforts to contain the narrative, the video only fueled xenophobic sentiments.
In an attempt to convince Trump that the genocide claims were unfounded, Ramaphosa suggested that Trump listen to the stories and perspectives of South Africans, including some of his close friends. However, Trump seemed unconvinced, citing numerous stories and documentaries that supported the genocide claim.
The visit came shortly after the U.S. granted refugee status to dozens of white Afrikaners, following Trump’s claims of genocide against white farmers in South Africa. Ramaphosa arrived at the White House with South Africa’s top golfers and wealthiest man, in an effort to reset the relationship between the two countries and show solidarity between the government and the white population.
Despite the pleasant small talk on golfing, the atmosphere soon turned uncomfortable as the two leaders discussed the issues at hand. Trump has been critical of South Africa’s land reform policies and racial disparities in land ownership, while South Africa has defended its reforms as constitutional and aimed at resolving racial disparities since the end of apartheid.
The U.S. government’s intervention in relocating Afrikaner families and suspending cooperation with South Africa’s upcoming G20 summit has further strained relations between the two countries. South Africa’s plans to appoint a new ambassador to the U.S. following the expulsion of the former envoy only add to the diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
Overall, the visit between Ramaphosa and Trump highlighted the ongoing challenges in the relationship between South Africa and the United States, with land reforms, racial disparities, and the alleged genocide against white farmers at the center of the discussion.
