Cyril Ramaphosa coy on whether he'll meet Elon Musk on US trip
President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Washington DC for a high-level Working Visit aimed at resetting and revitalising South Africa's bilateral relations with the United States.
Touching down on Monday, Ramaphosa appeared upbeat as he greeted the media with a smile and wave before heading to his hotel.
The visit will culminate on Wednesday with a meeting between President Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump at the White House.
The meeting is expected to focus on enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, and diplomacy.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya described the visit as a 'significant step' in reshaping the bilateral economic and political relationship between the two nations.
Magwenya emphasised that trade, particularly the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), will be at the centre of talks.
AGOA allows duty-free access for selected sub-Saharan African exports to the US, but recent tariff hikes by the Trump administration – such as a 31% increase on South African goods – have cast uncertainty over its future.
'If the Trump administration has decided to do away with AGOA, we are ready to present a new framework for bilateral trade,' said Magwenya.
The visit comes amid persistent US media narratives regarding the 'persecution' of white South African farmers.
Magwenya dismissed such claims, asserting, 'The whole world knows there is no persecution of any particular race in South Africa.'
He said the president will briefly address the matter, but will not let it overshadow the central goal of strengthening economic ties.
Cyril Ramaphosa's visit also comes during South Africa's G20 Presidency.
Questions were raised about the perceived absence of high-level US participation in recent ministerial meetings.
Magwenya clarified that the US remains engaged in the G20 Troika and confirmed that an invitation to President Trump for the upcoming summit remains open.
When asked about possible apprehension over meeting President Trump, Magwenya responded: 'No, he's not apprehensive at all. There may be robust discussions, but that's the nature of these engagements.'
He also noted that the president is prepared, confident, and focused on a productive and mutually respectful dialogue.
Speculation over a possible meeting with South Africa-born tech entrepreneur Elon Musk was addressed, with Magwenya saying the president's schedule is still being finalised and no such meeting has yet been confirmed.
'Well, we've just arrived. We're going to be briefed by our team that advanced here, and so we will take direction from them in terms of what has been done, what has been prepared, and the allocations.'
President Cyril Ramaphosa is accompanied by a high-powered ministerial delegation, including: Ronald Lamola (International Relations and Cooperation)
Khumbudzo Ntshavheni (Minister in the Presidency)
Parks Tau (Trade, Industry and Competition)
John Steenhuisen (Agriculture)
Mcebisi Jonas (Special Envoy to the USA)
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
2 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Tradition meets convenience
I grew up eating tripe and onions, a traditional Yorkshire dish that my mother mastered for my British father. Tripe, the lining of the cow's stomach, is something you either love or hate. We loved it. Mom's version was made using clean tripe — I later learnt it was soaked in bleach to make it clean and snowy white — and it was cooked slowly in onions and milk till tender. It was one of my favourite dishes, so my interest was piqued when invited to lunch at Tasty Nation eatery, located in a suburban shopping centre in Sunninghill, Gauteng and fast growing in popularity. Here you will find items such as peri-peri chicken, pork ribs and lamb chops among traditional foods like maotwana (chicken feet), mogodu (beef tripe and intestines), thlakwana (slow-cooked cow heels), skopo, sheep head, nhloko (beef head meat), pap, dombolo (steamed bread), samp and beans and even hot-cooked chips — a celebration of a range of dishes that truly reflect South African food culture. At Tasty Nation you can sit down and enjoy the feast, order a takeout or pick up ready-made meals from the well-stocked freezer section. I came home with a doypack of delicious samp and beans and some tender yet chewy ready-prepared chicken feet. I chatted to Kelly Lewis, CEO of Tasty Nation, and asked her where it all started, what was it about offal that she so enjoyed and why the company had chosen to open their first eatery in the northern suburbs of Joburg. Image: Supplied Offal kind of found me, actually. While working on other convenience foods, my partners and I realised there was an entire market of people who loved traditional offal dishes but had little to no access to them in a convenient, ready-made format. Despite its beloved status, offal was largely absent from mainstream food service. I wasn't a chef, but I had a background in sales and a drive to make things happen. So, I took that insight, built a team, and set out to bring these cherished meals to the people who wanted them. And that's been our mission for the past decade — getting offal into as many hot food counters as possible. A year ago, our convenience offering expanded to include a range of frozen meals, now available in Pick n Pay stores nationwide. And most recently, we launched our very first Tasty Nation outlet in Sunninghill, a big step in bringing offal into the everyday food conversation. It will probably surprise you to learn that I didn't grow up eating offal. My mother occasionally cooked dishes like liver and kidney, but I never enjoyed the flavours, or the textures for that matter. I've come to enjoy and respect them more over time, though. Head meat is my offal of choice at the moment. Tasty Nation, in a Sunninghill shopping centre, offers traditional dishes. Image: Supplied Tasty Nation. Image: Supplied We at Hodari Foods have been cooking hundreds of tonnes of offal each month for over a decade, supplying hot food counters across the country. Our move into the quick service restaurant space was a natural extension, which gives our customers the opportunity to enjoy our meals in a comfortable sit-down setting or delivered from our store to their door via their favourite food delivery app. And that's how we came to open our very first restaurant in Sunninghill, where busy people live and their need for traditional foods was a gap in the market. The response to access of traditional foods available on demand — especially in a suburban area — has been overwhelmingly positive. There's a strong appreciation for the convenience of enjoying familiar, culturally rooted meals close to home. It shows that even in our fast-paced, modern lifestyles, people value staying connected to their heritage. In South African traditional food culture offal is a huge favourite, yet many offal dishes still carry a negative stigma. How does your company go about changing this perception? Offal holds a special place in South Africa's culinary heritage and that's why we prepare every dish using trusted recipes and time-honoured cooking methods to deliver the authentic flavours. In celebrating these foods our aim is to bring it to everyone and there's more Tasty Nation restaurants to come, where we serve these beloved dishes in a clean, warm, inviting urban space with a modern design. Cleaning and preparing offal is time consuming; how is this done in the relatively small restaurant kitchen at Tasty Nation? It's very time-consuming, which is what puts a lot of people off cooking offal themselves. Our restaurant kitchen is small, but that's by design. All the cleaning, preparation and cooking is done in our central kitchens, which allows us to offer every meal on our menu all day, every day. More importantly, it ensures consistency — our customers can count on the same great taste at any Tasty Nation location, whether in Sunninghill or beyond — watch this space. 'Low and slow' is the key to cooking offal — using low temperatures and extended cooking times helps break down its tough fibres, resulting in tender meat and richly flavoured broths. We don't marinate offal, as our cooking method itself achieves the flavour infusion and tenderness that marinating does for prime cuts. Spice additions vary greatly from one offal to another. Tripe, for example, is traditionally cooked in its own juices with very little additions, while ingredients such as bay leaves, curry powder and chillies play an important role in transforming other forms of offal into flavourful and aromatic dishes. Pap, steamed bread and samp and beans are popular starch sides enjoyed with an offal stew, and the plate is then completed with cooked vegetables like spinach or cabbage and salads such as tomato salsa, coleslaw or beetroot. Mogodu (tripe) is by far our best-selling dish at Tasty Nation. Other favourites include nhloko (head meat), mutton curry, Gatsby, and braaied meats like beef short rib and brisket, typically served with pap and tomato relish. Which drinks pair well with a steaming bowl of offal? Lagers are a popular pairing with dishes like tripe or head meat. A bold red wine or strong ginger beer is a good option for the same reason, to cut through the richness of the dish. When can we expect more Tasty Nation restaurants opening about Gauteng and the country? The wheels are already in motion for expansion in Gauteng this year. Tasty Nation, Shop 12 Chilli Lane Shopping Centre, Sunninghill, Sandton Open: Monday — Saturday 10am-8pm; Sunday and Public Holidays 10am-8pm
The South African
4 hours ago
- The South African
ITHUBA granted last-minute 12-month temporary lottery licence
ITHUBA has confirmed that the National Lottery will continue without interruption from 1 June 2025. In a press statement issued late on Saturday evening, ITHUBA stated that: 'After careful consideration and prioritising the interests of South Africans, ITHUBA has reached an agreement with the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, and the National Lotteries Commission to operate the South African National Lottery, ensuring its ongoing contribution to good causes. 'As a proudly 100% black-owned South African operator, ITHUBA remains steadfast in its commitment to operate the National Lottery with integrity, transparency, and for the benefit of South Africans. 'Participants can be rest assured that all games, draws, and prize pay-outs will continue as normal – with the same exciting jackpots and seamless service that they are accustomed to. 'ITHUBA continues to serve its core mandate: raising funds for the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) to uplift communities across South Africa.' Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Parks Tau has issued a 12-month temporary licence to ITHUBA Holdings. Tau said in a statement that this is in a bid to avoid a potentially disruptive pause in operations at the National Lottery. In a statement, Tau confirmed that the 12-month appointment takes effect on Sunday, 1 June following negotiations. This comes despite the high court ruling that issuing the incumbent ITHUBA a 12-month temporary licence is unconstitutional and favoured the current operator. Tau confirmed he is appealing this judgment as another court judgment confirmed his authority to make such an appointment in the public interest. This follows concerns that ticket sales would cease until the new licence holder, Sizekhaya, could take over operations next year. Concerns were also raised about the impact on funds to charities that benefit from the National Lottery Commission. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
5 hours ago
- The South African
Donald Trump unaware of Elon Musk's DRUG use
US President Donald Trump said on Friday he was unaware of Elon Musk's alleged drug use, brushing aside reports that the billionaire tech mogul regularly used ketamine, ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms during his time as a key figure in Trump's administration. Speaking during a surreal farewell ceremony in the Oval Office – where Musk formally stepped down from his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) – Trump told reporters: 'I wasn't [aware]. I think Elon is a fantastic guy.' The remark came hours after The New York Times published a bombshell report claiming Musk's heavy drug use had sparked concern among close aides and campaign staff. According to the report, Elon Musk's behaviour – including carrying a pill box on official trips – raised questions about his fitness to serve in a senior advisory role. Despite the mounting allegations, Trump offered no indication that the reported drug use had influenced Musk's departure. Elon Musk, who appeared at the White House event wearing a 'Dogefather' T-shirt and a dark bruise under his right eye, laughed off questions about the injury. He claimed it resulted from playful roughhousing with his five-year-old son, 'Lil X.' When pressed on the drug allegations, Musk dodged the question and instead criticised the press, calling out The New York Times for what he described as 'false reporting' and suggesting the story was politically motivated. The Trump administration downplayed the significance of the drug claims. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, whose wife reportedly works for Musk, responded dismissively: 'The drugs that we're concerned about are the ones crossing the southern border.' The low-key reaction contrasts with the typically tough-on-drugs rhetoric of Trump's previous administrations. Elon Musk's departure comes amid growing tension within Trump's inner circle over spending and the effectiveness of DOGE, which promised $1 trillion in savings but reportedly delivered far less. Despite stepping down, Musk vowed to remain a close ally. 'I look forward to continuing to be a friend and advisor to the president,' he said. But with scrutiny over his personal conduct mounting, questions remain about how long Musk can maintain his influence in Trump's orbit – or whether the former president was truly in the dark about his top advisor's controversial habits. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
