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The Citizen

All eyes on 17:30 White House meeting between Ramaphosa and Trump

All eyes on 17:30 White House meeting between Ramaphosa and Trump President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington DC today, in a high-stakes engagement aimed at easing diplomatic tensions and reaffirming South Africa's economic ties with its largest trading partner outside the continent. According to The Witness, the meeting, which is set to begin at 17:30 South African time (11:30 EDT), marks a significant moment in bilateral relations between the two nations, following months of strain fuelled by false claims of targeted persecution of Afrikaners in South Africa. Ramaphosa is expected to use the opportunity to set the record straight on South Africa's transformation policies and to reassure US leadership of the country's commitment to democratic values and inclusive economic growth. What to expect According to a programme advisory from the Presidency, Ramaphosa's day at the White House will unfold as follows: 17:30 (11:30 EDT) – President Trump formally receives President Ramaphosa 17:35 (11:35 EDT) – Ramaphosa signs the visitors' book 17:45 (11:45 EDT) – Working lunch with President Trump 18:45 (12:45 EDT) – Bilateral meeting between the two heads of state, including interaction with the media 19:30 (13:30 EDT) – Ramaphosa departs the White House The South African delegation includes high-ranking Cabinet ministers and prominent figures from the country's business and sporting spheres. South African delegation joining the president: Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Ronald Lamola Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen Business leaders Johann Rupert and Adrian Gore Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi South African golf legends Ernie Els and Retief Goosen US representation On the American side, President Trump will be accompanied by: Vice President JD Vance Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau Elon Musk, in his capacity as special government employee for the Department of Government Efficiency Senior advisors Susie Wiles and Dr Massad Boulos Focus of the talks The talks are expected to cover a range of critical issues, including trade, geopolitical cooperation, and correcting recent misunderstandings in the diplomatic space. South Africa remains a key strategic partner for the United States, with more than $20b (approximately R358.4b) in annual trade and over 600 US companies operating in the country. Ramaphosa, speaking ahead of the meeting, said he was hopeful about the outcome. 'I'm looking forward to a very good outcome for our country, for our people, for jobs in our country, good trade relations, and to normalise relations between the two countries.' Also read: [Videos] Minister highlights strategic importance of Ramaphosa's meeting with Trump Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!