Ramaphosa to present trade package to US with hopes of striking a good deal: Presidency
CAPE TOWN - Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says President Cyril Ramaphosa will present a trade package to the United States (US), with hopes of striking a good deal for the country.
Ramaphosa will travel to the US next week for his highly anticipated meeting with US President Donald Trump, to trash out a trade deal and also address false claims of how Afrikaners are facing persecution and violence in the country.
On Thursday, Ntshavheni told a post-Cabinet briefing that they're optimistic the meeting will be cordial and constructive with positive outcomes for both countries.
Ramaphosa's meeting with Trump comes amid simmering tensions over trade as well as South Africa's domestic affairs, like false claims of Afrikaner persecution and land grabs.
ALSO READ: Strengthening trade, job creation top of agenda when Ramaphosa meets Trump - Presidency
Trade is also a top priority for both countries, and the meeting comes a couple of months after Trump slapped South Africa with a 30% tariff, before suspending it for 90 days.
Minister Ntshavheni says they will make trade offers to the US, one of South Africa's biggest trading partners.
'There will be a deal. We will offer a package; we will negotiate a package, and that package must be a package that is also beneficial to South Africa.'
But Ntshavheni says South Africa won't be strong-armed during negotiations.
'You will remember our president has committed that we will not be bullied. We remain in that mode.'
She said in terms of the delegation to the US, President Ramaphosa and The Presidency will make an announcement in due course.
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IOL News
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Mandela's grandson calls for charges against Afrikaners who have taken up Trump's resettlement offer
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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Mayibuye Mandela claimed that their actions constitute offences under South Africa's Immigration Act, the Films and Publications Act, the Equality Act and the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act. 'This is not just a matter of misinformation. 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He said AfriForum and Solidarity must also be held accountable for their roles in 'orchestrating and promoting this false narrative'. He accused the two organisations of inciting racial division, defaming South Africa's constitutional democracy and 'betraying the principles that generations of South Africans have fought to uphold'. AfriForm said questions should be referred to chief officer, Kallie Kriel, who did not respond. Solidarity's head of public Liaison, Jaco Kleynhans, said the organisation views these allegations as 'completely unfounded and just another attempt to shift the focus away from South Africa's huge problems'. Kleynhans said Solidarity had never claimed that a genocide is taking place in South Africa but has long been providing evidence of serious cultural and economic oppression of minorities in the country. He said this amounts to a 'general cultural persecution that is beginning to take on dangerous levels and could lead to life-threatening threats in the future'. 'The US government has every right to grant refugee status to citizens of another country that it considers to be experiencing serious oppression or persecution." "Instead of attacking these people or the organisations they represent, we need to have a serious conversation in South Africa about the extent of absolute racial discrimination against minorities, the levels of violent crime that are occurring in our country, and what is needed to address these and other problems. He said Solidarity is in constant contact with the Trump administration. "We will not allow what is happening in South Africa to be swept under the rug or for defamatory allegations to be made about our position on important issues,' he said. Both AfriForum and Solidarity face a government investigation of treason, after allegations that they supplied false and damaging information to the US government regarding the treatment of white farmers. Minister in Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavehini, confirmed the investigation during a parliamentary session last month, warning that treasonous acts cannot be left unpunished. This follows calls from several political parties, including the EFF and MK Party, for the government to act against the two organisations following their visit to the US, where they engaged with Trump's administration.
IOL News
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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ He referenced the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, which proclaimed, 'the people shall share in the country's wealth,' and argued that empowerment policies are key to ensuring inclusive growth. 'We must make our empowerment policies more meaningful,' he said. 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Eyewitness News
8 hours ago
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Ramaphosa defends transformation, says it's a necessity not a favour
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