Was it a hole in one for Ramaphosa, or did Trump meeting leave him in the rough?

Eyewitness News

23-05-2025

Sara-Jayne Makwala King 22 May 2025 | 12:24 Donald Trump
Cyril Ramaphosa
The Clement Manyathela Show
President Cyril Ramaphosa arrives at the White House in Washington, United States, to meet his counterpart President Donald Trump over resetting the two countries' bilateral ties. Picture: AFP
Broadcasting from Washington D.C., 702's Clement Manyathela unpacks last night's meeting between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
Tshidi Madia, EWN Politics Editor and New York Times correspondent John Eligon join him.
Listen below:
It was a meeting that many had been anxiously awaiting and one that many agreed was much needed.
Considering the precarious nature of South Africa's relationship with the United States (U.S.) in recent months, all eyes were on Washington as the two leaders met on Wednesday.
From the American side, several issues have caused much consternation.
Primarily, South Africa's genocide case against its ally Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Then, of course, there's the issue of the 'white genocide' the US president seems to have been convinced is taking place here.
Add to that the controversial Expropriation Act, and misgivings about America's relationship with South Africa have been at an all-time high.
So, one pertinent question remains—did Cyril Ramaphosa do enough to mend and set US-SA relations back on an amicable path (a path that ultimately leads to more investment in South Africa)?
Tshidi Madia and John Eligon unpack Wednesday's Oval Office conference between the two leaders.
Madia said when South African journalists left for Washington a few days ago, they knew which ministers would form part of the delegation.
She says no mention was made at the time of the famous golfers who would also attend the meeting inside the Oval Office.
Sporting legends Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, who are apparently golfing buddies of the US president, were present on Wednesday.
Crucially, says Madia, the two were included on the White House invitation list, and did not form part of the official South African delegation: "These are his friends. These are people he plays golf with. These are people who have gone to him to intervene or to have comments on South Africa in one way or another." Tshidi Madia, Political editor - EWN
Some of these golfing buddies have even been credited with efforts to ensure South Africa's continued inclusion in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) agreement, explains Madia.
However, when asked about the presence of the sports stars, Madia states that Ramaphosa became 'testy'. "What Ramaphosa failed to admit openly was that, [he] didn't bring the golfers, they were given to [him]. Tshidi Madia, Political editor - EWN But she says government did not feel aggrieved by the presence of Els and Goosen: "They did look at the golfers as people they regard as patriots." Tshidi Madia, Political editor - EWN
But patriotic or not, New York Times correspondent John Eligon says Trump used the golfers to make his own case about South Africa: "I thought it was very telling that he got, at the very least, Retief Goosen to the point where he said his mother has been attacked and his family has to live behind and electric fence." John Eligon, Correspondent - New York Times
Notably absent from the meeting - and from the delegation - was Mcebisi Jonas, the newly appointed South African special envoy to the United States (US).
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed to Clement Manyathela that the Trump administration has raised 'displeasure' about Jonas.
This, of course, is in relation to previous comments made by Jonas about the US Commander-in-Chief in which he referred to Trump as a racist and a homophobe. "You can't appoint a special envoy and then an opportunity comes to open channels and he's not in the room...it makes absolutely no sense." Tshidi Madia, Political editor - EWN "He [Jonas] was on route to the US - he didn't make it here, but he was on his way." Tshidi Madia, Political editor - EWN
ALSO READ: Jonas hopes US buries hatchet over his Trump comments
One of the most jaw-dropping moments of the meeting came when President Ramaphosa appeared to be ambushed by Trump, who produced a pre-prepared video montage in his bid to prove the so-called white genocide in South Africa.
The video included footage of Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema singing 'Kill The Boer' to a packed stadium.
Ramaphosa initially looked shocked and confused by the footage, but later led to denials by the delegation, who conceded that crime is rampant but isn't targeted at a specific grouping based on race. "Ramaphosa came ready to approach Trump the way he needed to...I think he did that well...and then this video comes on...and no, President Ramaphosa was not ready for that." John Eligon, Correspondent - New York Times "Throughout the whole thing he was squirming." John Eligon, Correspondent - New York Times
However, while that particular moment of the meeting was steeped in awkwardness, Eligon says that overall, Ramaphosa held his own well and did what he came to do and what he needed to do.
In other words, his well-known charm offensive worked, says Elgion. "He needed to really stroke Trump's ego, he needed to make Trump happy, and he did all those things." John Eligon, Correspondent - New York Times
Surprisingly, what had been thought to be one of the more contentious issues for the US, ended up being shrugged off by the US president.In the Oval Office, Manyathela asked Trump whether he anticipated South Africa would withdraw its genocide case against Israel.
Trump's response? "I'm not expecting anything, to be honest. They've brought a case, and there's a lot of emotion around it… We'll get a ruling eventually, but it's hard to say what that will actually mean." "If I was Benjamin Netenyahu I would be looking at Trump's response, because that actually tells you so much...he shrugged the question away." Tshidi Madia, Political editor - EWN "That tells you something about a shift in geo-politics, pay attention." Tshidi Madia, Political editor - EWN
Eligon says Trump's response to the question around the ICJ case was one of South Africa's big wins.