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On Wednesday, President Ramaphosa will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C. This visit presents an important opportunity to reset the strategic relationship between South Africa and the United States. At a time of heightened geopolitical and economic turbulence, it is vital that official relations be underpinned by mutual respect, open dialogue, and the facts.

LAND REFORM

A central issue of contention has been the misrepresentation of South Africa’s Expropriation Act, a constitutional instrument designed to enable fair and transparent land reform. Contrary to claims of land grabs or “genocide” against White citizens, not a single property has been expropriated without due process or compensation. In many cases, compensation has been generous.

These facts stand in stark contrast to the manufactured narrative being pushed by right-wing political groups and their civil society allies, who have lobbied aggressively in the United States to paint South Africa as a lawless, anti-White regime. This is patently false and dangerously reckless.

In fact, South Africa is under increasing pressure from populist politicians precisely because its transformation policies, including land reform, have been viewed domestically as too slow, too cautious and too accommodating. The disinformation abroad about land seizures and lawlessness is not only untrue, it inverts the real political dynamics at home.

South Africa’s Expropriation Act, like the U.S. Fifth Amendment (eminent domain), permits the state to acquire land in the public interest, with just and equitable compensation. It is a vital tool for reversing the original sins of land dispossession, apartheid spatial planning, and structural inequality. It is true that in certain, acutely defined circumstances, just and equitable compensation would be nil.  But those circumstances could never give rise to arbitrary, punitive or random land grabs as has been claimed by some bad-faith players.

PALESTINE

South Africa’s firm support for the Palestinian people, most recently in its ICJ application to have the bombardment of Gaza declared a genocide, is consistent with its values, its Constitution, and its own struggle history. The GOOD Party reaffirms its support for this application. South Africa has a special responsibility to speak out against crimes against humanity, informed by its lived experience of apartheid. The racial and spatial segregation, land theft, and military occupation at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict carry haunting echoes of our own past. This is not anti-Semitism, it is anti-oppression.

President Ramaphosa needs to use this visit to make clear that diplomatic disagreement is not diplomatic aggression, and that principled foreign policy should not come at the cost of trade cooperation or political engagement.

TRADE

Current U.S. policy positions and recent statements by President Trump cast serious doubt on the likelihood that South Africa’s preferential trade access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) will be renewed in its current form beyond its September 2025 expiration date. Ramaphosa’s visit to Washington presents a critical opportunity to promote a more balanced and inclusive trade relationship, one that recognises South Africa’s role as a strategic economic partner on the African continent.

SOUTH AFRICA AWAITS – COME FIND YOUR JOY!

This visit also presents a chance to remind the U.S. administration of the many positive developments unfolding in South Africa. President Ramaphosa could highlight, for example, the historic victory of Dylan Naidoo, who became the first South African Open golf champion of colour this year. The tournament, established in 1903, has been won a record 13 times by Gary Player, a close friend of President Trump and a celebrated ambassador for South African sport.

Rugby, like golf, represents an avenue of soft diplomacy and shared pride. At home, the Springboks continue to unite the country across divides. The team’s success and symbolism, especially in a Rugby World Cup year, and with the next tournament to be hosted in the U.S., offer fertile ground for building sporting and cultural ties. 

President Ramaphosa might also extend a personal invitation to President Trump to visit South Africa and experience its boundless tourism potential firsthand. As GOOD Leader and Minister of Tourism recently noted, “In the first two months of 2025 alone, the country welcomed nearly 1.8 million international visitors.” And it’s easy to see why - from the vibrant streets of Johannesburg to the golden beaches of Durban, and with Cape Town recently named “Best City in the World” by Time Out, South Africa offers an unforgettable blend of culture, natural beauty, and world-class hospitality. A visit to the Cape winelands, a region of old-world elegance, renowned for its exceptional wines, historic estates, and thriving tourism, would no doubt resonate with President Trump’s appreciation for real estate, luxury, and leisure.

This U.S. visit marks a critical moment to rebuild trust and reaffirm South Africa’s role as a reliable partner, committed to inclusive growth, international law, and democratic governance. Disinformation, whether about land reform or foreign policy, threatens not just our relations with the U.S., but the economic well-being of all South Africans. We need to show that our Constitution, our people, and our diplomacy are stronger than the misinformation campaigns that seek to undo them.

Issued by Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General