Latest news with #SouthAfrica-US
IOL News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
South Africa's tourism sector unites to address safety concerns during Ramaphosa-Trump talks
President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Donald Trump during talks at the White House. The tides of misinformation swirling around South Africa's safety have been met with an unwavering wave of support from the nation's tourism bodies, rallying behind President Cyril Ramaphosa and his delegation following recent discussions at the White House with President Donald Trump. This diplomatic dialogue, aimed at mending the strain in South Africa-US relations, revolved significantly around perceptions of violence and crime in the country, particularly the contentious narrative of an alleged ongoing white genocide. At the heart of this discourse was South African billionaire Johann Rupert, who, during the conversation with Trump, candidly spoke about crime levels, saying: 'The crime is terrible, sir, but Mr Steenhuisen won't admit to it; he runs the Western Cape where I live. The highest murder rate is in the Cape Flats.' Rupert's comments cast a spotlight on the complexities of crime in South Africa, setting the stage for broader reflections from the tourism industry. The Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (Satsa) swiftly responded to the dialogue, declaring that much of the media coverage around these issues had leaned toward sensationalism, overshadowing the real experiences of travellers. 'South Africa isn't perfect. Like every country, we face challenges. But what we don't have is a crisis that justifies global panic or distorted narratives,' said Satsa CEO David Frost. He continued, 'What we do have is millions of tourists arriving safely every year and leaving with stories that have nothing to do with fear and everything to do with awe.' For travellers, incidents of violence remain exceedingly rare, and Frost's assertions are backed by statistical data showing that despite crime concerns, visitor satisfaction levels are notably high across key source markets. Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading US arrivals surged to 372 362 in 2024, recovering to 100% of 2019 levels amidst a backdrop of continuous and strong travel demand from North America. To further bolster confidence, major tourism destinations in South Africa continue to operate smoothly, supported by robust public-private safety initiatives. 'We don't pretend crime doesn't exist,' Frost clarified. 'But context matters. The suggestion that tourists are at significant risk is dangerous misinformation that serves political agendas rather than public interest.' Recognising the delicate narrative surrounding safety and tourism, Satsa urged international media outlets and global officials to engage responsibly when discussing intricate issues like land reform and national crime rates. 'This sector employs hundreds of thousands,' emphasised Frost. 'It puts food on tables from Soweto guesthouses right through to safari camps in Limpopo. And in South Africa, one tourism job typically supports up to seven people, meaning a single traveller's decision has a ripple effect across entire households.' The Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (Fedhasa) echoed these sentiments, reinforcing that the nation's accommodations, restaurants, and hospitality venues consistently provide safe, welcoming environments for both domestic and international guests. 'Our hospitality industry upholds some of the highest service and security standards globally. From boutique guesthouses to international hotel brands, our members implement comprehensive security protocols that allow guests to relax and enjoy South Africa's legendary hospitality with peace of mind,' stated Rosemary Anderson, Fedhasa's National Chairperson. While crime is certainly acknowledged as a national challenge, particularly in the context of global tourism, Anderson highlighted the efforts made by the hospitality industry: 'We've built professionalism into every layer, from concierge desks knowing how to escalate concerns swiftly right through to housekeeping staff trained on guest wellbeing.' As South Africa navigates its complex history en route to a shared future, the collective voices from the tourism sector advocate diligently for a nuanced understanding of the nation's safety realities. They call for personal experience to guide perceptions: 'If you want honest answers about what travel here looks like today,' Frost encouraged, 'ask someone who's actually been, or better yet, come and see for yourself.'
Eyewitness News
22-05-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Ramaphosa-Trump meeting potential turning point for SA-US relations - Centre for Risk Analysis
JOHANNESBURG - The Centre for Risk Analysis believes the meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and United States (US) President Donald Trump marks a potential turning point for South Africa-US relations. Its executive director, Chris Hattingh, said South Africa must now build on this diplomatic momentum by focusing on several priority areas including securing US participation in the G20, bilateral trade agreements, mining investment and infrastructure partnerships. 'South Africa needs to take a more active role in its region, so where it can cooperate with other countries in the region, that are closer to the US countries like Botswana, Rwanda because South African will also boost its regional standing." Hattingh also cautioned against misinterpreting the 'America First' rhetoric that shapes US foreign policy under the Trump administration. 'Countries like South Africa shouldn't take that on a very literal interpretation, and I say that because America First does not necessarily mean America alone. So, the Trump administration, even though they are pulling back on American activity on some countries, they're looking to partner with countries that are responsible, economic and investor-friendly players in their respective regions. There's no reason why South Africa can't be one of those countries.' ALSO READ:
eNCA
16-05-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
Ramaphosa's talks with Trump chance to reset tattered ties
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa travels to the United States next week to meet Donald Trump in a bid to rescue deteriorating relations with a vital and increasingly critical trade partner. Ramaphosa will need to work his skills as a negotiator when he sits down with Trump Wednesday -- and an invitation for the US president to play South Africa's golf courses might just help build rapport, said one analyst. This will be their first face-to-face meeting since the start of the US president's second term in January, say analysts. The meeting will be "one of the most important South Africa-US bilateral engagements we've ever had in our history," Institute for Security Studies researcher Priyal Singh told AFP. Ramaphosa's spokesman Vincent Magwenya said on local television Thursday that the talks would be "honest" and "robust". But the president will also have to strike a "very conciliatory tone" and avoid a public confrontation like the clash between Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in February, Singh said. "If Ramaphosa plays his cards right, there could be some kind of new understanding that could work out in South Africa's favour," he added. "But an equal possibility is that this trip may go completely sideways." - Consensus builder - The US administration has torn into several South African policies. It has attacked its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and a land expropriation law meant to redress historical inequalities. Washington alleges the law will allow the government to seize white-owned land. Washington has also cut aid to South Africa, has announced 31-percent tariffs, and in March expelled Pretoria's ambassador after he criticised Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. AFP | MARCO LONGARI Pretoria announced the May 21 meeting days after a first group of white South African Afrikaners, whom incorrectly Trump claims are "persecuted" in South Africa, landed in the United States to accept his offer of "refuge". Ramaphosa will stress to Trump that conspiracies of a "white genocide" in South Africa are "patently false", Magwenya said. Pretoria would however not compromise on its genocide case against Israel at the ICJ. "Those are issues that we believe we can discuss, and where we disagree, we can choose to respectfully agree to disagree," he said. - Golf diplomacy - Ramaphosa is a seasoned negotiator who honed his skills in the transition to democracy in the 1990s. "He's certainly not going to prove President Trump wrong in front of the media," said Richard Morrow, a researcher at the Brenthurst Foundation. "Ramaphosa's key strength in this context is that he's a consensus builder." Other world leaders, from Zelensky to the UK's Keir Starmer, have managed to reach common ground by "flattering" Trump, Morrow said. "When it comes to Trump, this kind of out-of-the-box thinking in which leaders can build personal rapport through unofficial engagements is absolutely the way to go," said Singh. For Ramaphosa, the connection could be golf, and he will likely repeat his invitation for Trump to visit South Africa's world-class courses. The president wants Trump to "see for himself that we're not running around killing white people" and "enjoy some of our beautiful golf courses", Magwenya said. - G20 - High on Ramaphosa's agenda will be trade with the United States, South Africa's second-biggest trade partner. He will be concerned about the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) deal, which provides duty-free access to the US market to some African products. Tariffs announced by Trump in April and later suspended for 90 days threatened to slash tens of thousands of jobs in South Africa, where unemployment is already running at 32 percent. "In the event that the Trump administration has decided to do away with AGOA, we will be ready to engage over what we believe is a mutually beneficial trade relationship," Magwenya told the state broadcaster SABC. The country has rare earth metals and minerals to offer, he noted. "South Africa has a wealth of critical minerals, particularly in the form of platinum group metals, chromium, manganese, all of which will have a role to play in America's industrial trajectory if President Trump can have his way," Morrow said. Ramaphosa will also want to convince Trump to attend the G20 summit of developing nations in South Africa in November, which he has threatened to skip, said Thelela Ngcetane-Vika, of the Wits School of Governance. "South Africa, small as it is, is a strategic nation," she said. "It's a gateway to the continent, the most sophisticated economy in Africa, it is also important in the multipolar world... and critically important in Global South politics." Already in December, Ramaphosa suggested Trump might find time for a friendly round of golf if he attended the G20 summit. The two of them, he suggested, might "go and play golf and talk about global matters".
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ramaphosa's talks with Trump chance to reset tattered ties
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa travels to the United States next week to meet Donald Trump in a bid to rescue deteriorating relations with a vital and increasingly critical trade partner. Ramaphosa will need to work his skills as a negotiator when he sits down with Trump Wednesday -- and an invitation for the US president to play South Africa's golf courses might just help build rapport, said one analyst. This will be their first face-to-face meeting since the start of the US president's second term in January, say analysts. The meeting will be "one of the most important South Africa-US bilateral engagements we've ever had in our history," Institute for Security Studies researcher Priyal Singh told AFP. Ramaphosa's spokesman Vincent Magwenya said on local television Thursday that the talks would be "honest" and "robust". But the president will also have to strike a "very conciliatory tone" and avoid a public confrontation like the clash between Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in February, Singh said. "If Ramaphosa plays his cards right, there could be some kind of new understanding that could work out in South Africa's favour," he added. "But an equal possibility is that this trip may go completely sideways." - Consensus builder - The US administration has torn into several South African policies. It has attacked its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and a land expropriation law meant to redress historical inequalities. Washington alleges the law will allow the government to seize white-owned land. Washington has also cut aid to South Africa, has announced 31-percent tariffs, and in March expelled Pretoria's ambassador after he criticised Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. Pretoria announced the May 21 meeting days after a first group of white South African Afrikaners, whom incorrectly Trump claims are "persecuted" in South Africa, landed in the United States to accept his offer of "refuge". Ramaphosa will stress to Trump that conspiracies of a "white genocide" in South Africa are "patently false", Magwenya said. Pretoria would however not compromise on its genocide case against Israel at the ICJ. "Those are issues that we believe we can discuss, and where we disagree, we can choose to respectfully agree to disagree," he said. - Golf diplomacy - Ramaphosa is a seasoned negotiator who honed his skills in the transition to democracy in the 1990s. "He's certainly not going to prove President Trump wrong in front of the media," said Richard Morrow, a researcher at the Brenthurst Foundation. "Ramaphosa's key strength in this context is that he's a consensus builder." Other world leaders, from Zelensky to the UK's Keir Starmer, have managed to reach common ground by "flattering" Trump, Morrow said. "When it comes to Trump, this kind of out-of-the-box thinking in which leaders can build personal rapport through unofficial engagements is absolutely the way to go," said Singh. For Ramaphosa, the connection could be golf, and he will likely repeat his invitation for Trump to visit South Africa's world-class courses. The president wants Trump to "see for himself that we're not running around killing white people" and "enjoy some of our beautiful golf courses", Magwenya said. - G20 - High on Ramaphosa's agenda will be trade with the United States, South Africa's second-biggest trade partner. He will be concerned about the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) deal, which provides duty-free access to the US market to some African products. Tariffs announced by Trump in April and later suspended for 90 days threatened to slash tens of thousands of jobs in South Africa, where unemployment is already running at 32 percent. "In the event that the Trump administration has decided to do away with AGOA, we will be ready to engage over what we believe is a mutually beneficial trade relationship," Magwenya told the state broadcaster SABC. The country has rare earth metals and minerals to offer, he noted. "South Africa has a wealth of critical minerals, particularly in the form of platinum group metals, chromium, manganese, all of which will have a role to play in America's industrial trajectory if President Trump can have his way," Morrow said. Ramaphosa will also want to convince Trump to attend the G20 summit of developing nations in South Africa in November, which he has threatened to skip, said Thelela Ngcetane-Vika, of the Wits School of Governance. "South Africa, small as it is, is a strategic nation," she said. "It's a gateway to the continent, the most sophisticated economy in Africa, it is also important in the multipolar world... and critically important in Global South politics." Already in December, Ramaphosa suggested Trump might find time for a friendly round of golf if he attended the G20 summit. The two of them, he suggested, might "go and play golf and talk about global matters". jcb/br/jj
Int'l Business Times
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Ramaphosa's Talks With Trump Chance To Reset Tattered Ties
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa travels to the United States next week to meet Donald Trump in a bid to rescue deteriorating relations with a vital and increasingly critical trade partner. Ramaphosa will need to work his skills as a negotiator when he sits down with Trump Wednesday -- and an invitation for the US president to play South Africa's golf courses might just help build rapport, said one analyst. This will be their first face-to-face meeting since the start of the US president's second term in January, say analysts. The meeting will be "one of the most important South Africa-US bilateral engagements we've ever had in our history," Institute for Security Studies researcher Priyal Singh told AFP. Ramaphosa's spokesman Vincent Magwenya said on local television Thursday that the talks would be "honest" and "robust". But the president will also have to strike a "very conciliatory tone" and avoid a public confrontation like the clash between Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in February, Singh said. "If Ramaphosa plays his cards right, there could be some kind of new understanding that could work out in South Africa's favour," he added. "But an equal possibility is that this trip may go completely sideways." The US administration has torn into several South African policies. It has attacked its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and a land expropriation law meant to redress historical inequalities. Washington alleges the law will allow the government to seize white-owned land. Washington has also cut aid to South Africa, has announced 31-percent tariffs, and in March expelled Pretoria's ambassador after he criticised Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. Pretoria announced the May 21 meeting days after a first group of white South African Afrikaners, whom incorrectly Trump claims are "persecuted" in South Africa, landed in the United States to accept his offer of "refuge". Ramaphosa will stress to Trump that conspiracies of a "white genocide" in South Africa are "patently false", Magwenya said. Pretoria would however not compromise on its genocide case against Israel at the ICJ. "Those are issues that we believe we can discuss, and where we disagree, we can choose to respectfully agree to disagree," he said. Ramaphosa is a seasoned negotiator who honed his skills in the transition to democracy in the 1990s. "He's certainly not going to prove President Trump wrong in front of the media," said Richard Morrow, a researcher at the Brenthurst Foundation. "Ramaphosa's key strength in this context is that he's a consensus builder." Other world leaders, from Zelensky to the UK's Keir Starmer, have managed to reach common ground by "flattering" Trump, Morrow said. "When it comes to Trump, this kind of out-of-the-box thinking in which leaders can build personal rapport through unofficial engagements is absolutely the way to go," said Singh. For Ramaphosa, the connection could be golf, and he will likely repeat his invitation for Trump to visit South Africa's world-class courses. The president wants Trump to "see for himself that we're not running around killing white people" and "enjoy some of our beautiful golf courses", Magwenya said. High on Ramaphosa's agenda will be trade with the United States, South Africa's second-biggest trade partner. He will be concerned about the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) deal, which provides duty-free access to the US market to some African products. Tariffs announced by Trump in April and later suspended for 90 days threatened to slash tens of thousands of jobs in South Africa, where unemployment is already running at 32 percent. "In the event that the Trump administration has decided to do away with AGOA, we will be ready to engage over what we believe is a mutually beneficial trade relationship," Magwenya told the state broadcaster SABC. The country has rare earth metals and minerals to offer, he noted. "South Africa has a wealth of critical minerals, particularly in the form of platinum group metals, chromium, manganese, all of which will have a role to play in America's industrial trajectory if President Trump can have his way," Morrow said. Ramaphosa will also want to convince Trump to attend the G20 summit of developing nations in South Africa in November, which he has threatened to skip, said Thelela Ngcetane-Vika, of the Wits School of Governance. "South Africa, small as it is, is a strategic nation," she said. "It's a gateway to the continent, the most sophisticated economy in Africa, it is also important in the multipolar world... and critically important in Global South politics." Already in December, Ramaphosa suggested Trump might find time for a friendly round of golf if he attended the G20 summit. The two of them, he suggested, might "go and play golf and talk about global matters". The meeting comes days after a first group of white Afrikaners accepted 'refuge' from the United States AFP
