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The South African
25-06-2025
- Business
- The South African
South Africa just 14 days' away from Trump tariff disaster
Tuesday 9 July 2025, mark the day in your calendar as the beginning of the Trump tariff disaster. Back in April of this year, US President Donald Trump announced 30% 'punitive reciprocal trade tariffs' with South Africa. Amid growing political tensions between South Africa and the US, many believed this would deal a crippling blow to the economy. Then, all of a sudden, the Trump tariff disaster was averted when he hit a '90-day pause.' 'Afrikaner refugees,' cessation of US Aid and anti-Israeli rhetoric are just some of sticking points between the two heads of state. Image: File Nevertheless, the pause comes to an end in 14 days' time, on Tuesday 9 July 2025, reports BusinessTech . In the intervening weeks, South Africa has sent the President and other high-ranking officials to rectify tensions. But time is quickly running out. However, Busi Mavuso of Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) says an important meeting is taking place this week in Washington. Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau is meeting with US officials to hopefully dodge Trump tariff disaster once and for all, and secure an economic future for the country. Thankfully, the Elon Musk-Donald Trump bromance appears at an end for now. Image: via X @elonmusk Of course, South Africa tabled several trade proposals to the US when President Ramaphosa last visited Washington. This included mineral access and potential US liquified natural gas acquisitions, amongst others. However, zero progress has been made on the discussions since. Interestingly, it's not South Africa that's dragging its heels but rather the US that has not given formal feedback on the proposals. Essentially, it sounds like the US is ghosting us. And the clock is ticking. Minister Tau is the one entrusted with breaking the impasse this week. With no trade agreements yet, experts worry SA-US trade relations could sour quickly ahead of the approaching 9 July deadline. Image: Canva Mavuso says: 'Africa remains a critical source of minerals essential to the American economy. And the continent's growing population positions Africa as a key long-term manufacturing hub, too. Therefore, a Trump tariff disaster risks ceding this strategic advantage to China,' said Mavuso. As such, Minister Tau will either strive for an extension or a full tariff freeze this week. Any signed trade deals will go a long way to solidifying diplomatic relations between South Africa and the US. And the consequences of failure may mean the potential loss of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which is a key part of the negotiations. 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.
Eyewitness News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Ramaphosa to jet off to Canada for G7 Summit as SA prepares for G20
PRETORIA - President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to rub shoulders with US President Donald Trump yet again, but this time on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Canada. On Tuesday, Ramaphosa confirmed to reporters in Pretoria that he's scheduled to meet various heads of State, including Trump. While South Africa isn't a G7 member State, it will be attending the gathering next week. ALSO READ | SA-US relations: Trump welcomes Ramaphosa at the White House Ramaphosa says he'll use the trip to Canada to prepare for the G20 Summit scheduled to take place in Johannesburg in November. "We will be able to interact meaningfully with them. I am going to have a bilateral with the Chancellor of Germany, the Prime Minister of Canada and President Trump, whom we met at the White House. The G7 gives an opportunity to go and propagate our message. The message about South Africa's G20 presidency." Ramaphosa further explained the importance of attending the G7 meeting. "We are going to use it as a platform to begin to consolidate what we want to have in November when the leaders' summit takes place here."
IOL News
01-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Trump allies' fact finding mission on white farmers and genocide may not change US President's mind
US President Donald Trump's narrative on white farmers received a backlash from his ally, Pastor Mark Burns (right). Image: X Mark Burns, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, has returned from a visit to South Africa with a message contradicting claims of genocide against white farmers in the country. However experts believe that Trump always knew that there was no white genocide in the country and even if Burns advises the US President otherwise, this will not make a difference. Burns, who is the founder and CEO of the NOW television network, met with white Afrikaner farmers and business owners during his trip and concluded that there is no evidence to support the claims of genocide. According to Burns, the farmers he met were shocked to discover that such claims were being made. "You were able to hear their perspectives. "From their point of view, being white Afrikaners, there is absolutely no genocide or white genocide in South Africa," Burns said. He added that the farmers were more concerned about crime and safety, rather than genocide. Burns cited statistics provided by a white farmer, which showed that out of 5,200 murders in the last reporting quarter, only 12 were related to farmers, and only three of those were white. 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. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading "You clearly see that based on those statistics, and this was given to me by a farmer, a white farmer, and that to me speaks extreme volumes," he said. Despite the controversy, Burns is optimistic about the future of US-South Africa relations. He believes that a stronger South Africa is a stronger America, and vice versa. "If we are going to continue to make America great, partnering with South Africa is one of the components to do it," he said. Burns The question remains whether Burns' claims will change Trump's "belief" that there is a white genocide in South Africa. International relations expert Rich Mashimbye said for a while, the SA-US diplomatic tensions centred around the Trump-led government's accusations that the Ramaphosa government, was persecuting white South Africans and confiscating land from Afrikaner farmers while remaining silent. He said it did not matter what people said because Trump was aware there was no white genocide in South Africa but wanted to use the claim to get his way. 'As president of a country with one the largest embassies that is fully staffed in South Africa, Trump has access to all the information he requires about South Africa's transformation project and he likely knows that the issues of land reform and crime dynamics are not as has been portrayed so far. 'He knows that there is no genocide happening nor confiscation of white owned farms in South Africa. It is likely that the diplomatic attacks directed at South Africa are aimed at discouraging the Ramaphosa government from robustly executing the transformation project,' he said. Political analyst Sandile Swana said Burns' public statements were encouraging and showed that not everyone in Trump's camp agreed with him. 'To me they represent signs from the Trump's they have to tell a different story, which they are now doing…and a different story they are now telling is that whatever crime that is happening, is not a genocide but just crime that needs to be attended to." "There are about 600 American companies in South Africa such as Microsoft, IBM, Amazon, the Ford Motor Company and so on, so quite clearly the sources of information they have used (for the genocide claims) were not genuine. He said the country should welcome the efforts of Burns and hope that his camp will start to change their narrative to a much more sensible one.
The Citizen
01-06-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Afrikaner ‘refugees' continue to arrive in US on commercial flights
Relations between South Africa and the US have been on shaky ground amid false claims of a white genocide from the Trump administration. Picture for illustration. A group of Afrikaners gathered outside the American Embassy in Pretoria to deliver a memorandum to US President Donald Trump. Picture: Nigel Sibanda /The Citizen More Afrikaners reportedly continue to leave South Africa for the United States as part of the Afrikaner resettlement programme offered by President Donald Trump. The US embassy in Pretoria reportedly told News24 that it is reviewing inquiries from South Africans who are interested in settling in the US and is 'reaching out to eligible individuals for refugee interviews and processing'. Afrikaner 'refugees' continue to arrive in the US on commercial flights, the embassy reportedly told the publication. SA-US relations Relations between South Africa and the US have been on shaky ground amid false claims of a white genocide from the Trump administration and the signing of the Expropriation Bill. ALSO READ: Start of new 'Great Trek'? Afrikaners arrive in US Last month, a charter plane carrying 49 Afrikaners who were granted refugee status by the Trump administration to save them from the 'terrible things that are happening in South Africa' departed. They were welcomed by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. 'This tremendous accomplishment, at the direction of Secretary Rubio, responds to President Trump's call to prioritise US refugee resettlement of this vulnerable group facing unjust racial discrimination in South Africa,' said Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the United States Department of State, at the time. 'Today, the United States sends a clear message, in alignment with the administration's America First foreign policy agenda, that America will take action to protect victims of racial discrimination. We stand with these refugees as they build a better future for themselves and their children in the United States. ALSO READ: Resettlement of Afrikaners in US as refugees 'entirely politically motivated' Dirco says 'No one should have to fear having their property seized without compensation or becoming the victim of violent attacks because of their ethnicity. In the coming months, we will continue to welcome more Afrikaner refugees and help them rebuild their lives in our great country.' Government on Afrikaner 'refugees' At the time, the South African government could not confirm if another group would depart. 'It's not our job to be briefing on when they're moving. You must go to [AfriForum CEO] Mr Kallie Kriel, Solidarity and those groupings for those updates. Our job is to make sure that when they leave, they don't leave any debt or crime in the country,' said Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni following the group's departure. 'We all know the reasons they are leaving are not true. As the Cabinet, we express the view that they do not meet the criteria for refugee status, and there is no violence against farmers. Check that list and check how many of those people are actual farmers because the argument is that there is a genocide against farmers in South Africa.' READ NEXT: Ntshavheni says AfriForum admitted farm murder stats are accurate, Kriel accuses her of lying
eNCA
26-05-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
SA-US Relations Ramaphosa claims US visit was a success_
CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed his working visit to the United States as a success. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa delves into detail the trip. He emphasised that the visit came at a time when SA-US relations have come under increasing strain, largely as a result of misinformation peddled by fringe groups in the two countries. READ: SA-US Relations | David vs Goliath? This included the false narrative about a so-called genocide, and an orchestrated campaign of violence against white farmers. He concluded by saying the visit established a basis for greater engagement and cooperation with the United States. One person who has first hand experience of the underlying tensions between the two countries is former Ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool.
