SOUTH AFRICA
Mr President, it’s time to get our right royal house in order ahead of G20
South Africa’s long-standing relationship with the United States was thrust into the global spotlight during a high-stakes encounter between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Donald Trump at the White House. The meeting drew widespread media attention and offered an opportunity to reset bilateral ties amid tensions and misperceptions. For me, it sparked vivid memories of my own visit to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in 1996, during President Clinton’s second term. As an international journalism fellow hosted by the USIS, I toured 12 American states, engaged with policy and media professionals, and witnessed the unveiling of democratic South Africa’s nameplate at the United Nations. That whirlwind of diplomacy and media engagement remains a formative experience.
It feels like a déjà vu moment, vivid and stirring, as I retrace the steps of a journey that began decades ago with my first visit to the United States under the auspices of a prestigious USIS Fellowship. That experience, part professional, part personal, opened a window to the wider world, broadening my journalistic lens and reshaping my sense of the possible. The fellowship was no ordinary diplomatic gesture. It was meticulously curated by the gracious and astute US Consul-General Pamela Bridgewater, a dignified envoy whose commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding left an indelible mark on me. Assisting her were two equally dedicated programme officers: Paul Denig and Deva Govindsamy — the latter a proud Durbanite from Merebank, my own hometown. To see one of our own working at the heart of US diplomacy affirmed the value of global engagement and local excellence.
As a political journalist navigating South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy, I arrived in America with a suitcase of questions and a heart full of hope. The fellowship became a master class in democracy, civil liberties, media freedom, and American pluralism. From Washington, D.C. to community centres in the American South, I saw echoes of our own struggle mirrored in the lives of African Americans, resilient communities still pushing for justice, still dreaming of equality.
Little did I know that this first foray would lead to four more visits across the Atlantic. Each visit brought its own context, its own sense of purpose. I returned for conferences, media tours, and in time, a family celebration that would forever tether us to America. The most poignant visit was for the marriage ceremony of a close family member, a moment of joy and unity that extended the branches of our South African family tree into American soil.
That union has since blossomed into a deep-rooted relationship with the US, and today, members of my extended family are firmly part of the American narrative, contributing to the life of the country just as it once enriched mine.
Fast forward nearly 30 years, Ramaphosa’s visit came during a delicate diplomatic moment. Trump, back controversially for a second term, was primed with incendiary claims: white Afrikaner genocide, video clips of Julius Malema chanting Kill the Boer and data suggesting farm killings were racially targeted.
Ramaphosa, calm and composed, countered with reason. He rejected the genocide narrative, noting that violent crime in South Africa affects all races. “There is no genocide in South Africa,” he told Trump, citing that half of farm attack victims were black or coloured. “Malema’s rhetoric is not government policy,” he added, affirming the country’s multiparty democracy and constitutional rights to free speech.
His composure turned confrontation into cooperation. Trump listened. Ramaphosa later shared that the genocide issue, though raised publicly, did not dominate official discussions. Instead, the focus turned to trade, investment, and international diplomacy, with Trump reportedly agreeing to consider attending the G20 summit.
“We don’t want to hand over the G20 presidency to an empty chair,” Ramaphosa told Trump. “The US presence adds weight to the summit’s outcomes.”
The stakes were high. South Africa’s goal was to reposition its relationship with the US, frayed by differences over Palestine, Ukraine, and the ICJ case against Israel. The message: South Africa remains a key gateway to Africa, holding 90% of the world’s platinum deposits and ranked 28th among global economies.
Trade is critical. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), though undermined by earlier US tariffs, remain vital. South Africa is home to 600 American companies employing more than 500 000 South Africans. The delegation pushed for greater US investment and support for expanding AGOA.
Health diplomacy also featured prominently. Ramaphosa emphasised the continued need for PEPFAR funding in South Africa’s fight against HIV/AIDS and expressed gratitude for the 150 ventilators donated by the US during the pandemic.
Symbolism played a role, too. Ramaphosa presented Trump with a 15kg coffee table book on South African golf courses, an apt gesture for the golf-loving president. The soft diplomacy worked. Trump reportedly complimented Ramaphosa’s stature and statesmanship.
Behind the scenes, golfing legend Ernie Els helped facilitate the meeting, and was hailed as a driving force, although he stumbled with a reference to historic US. support for apartheid-era forces in Angola. Fellow golfer Retief Goosen shared a personal story of crime on his family’s farm, reinforcing that South Africa’s challenges are complex and not racially targeted.
Business mogul Johann Rupert advocated for US support in addressing crime through technology, citing Elon Musk’s Starlink and drone systems, as part of broader efforts to attract investment and modernise law enforcement. COSATU added concerns about porous borders and illegal immigration.
The Ramaphosa delegation, bolstered by figures such as DA Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, displayed unity despite party lines, reinforcing the national interest in deepening ties with the US. The fact that Steenhuisen, often viewed as a critic of Ramaphosa, was part of the team helped undercut Trump’s claims of racial bias and genocide.
Despite lingering differences on global flashpoints, both sides agreed on the importance of dialogue and constructive engagement. Ramaphosa reiterated South Africa’s commitment to peace, non-intervention, and multilateral diplomacy.
His steady leadership turned what could have been a diplomatic ambush into an opportunity. With Trump open to G20 participation and investment discussions underway, the meeting signaled a possible thaw. Ramaphosa showed that diplomacy, resilience, and strategic messaging can win the day.
Now, it’s time to get our right royal house in order, as we prepare to host the world at the G20, with South Africa standing tall on the global stage.
