Writing in his weekly newsletter, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that President Donald Trump agreed that the US should continue playing a key role in the G20, including attending the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg later this year.

Ramaphosa described his working visit to the US as a success, despite Trump having ambushed Ramaphosa in the Oval Office with discredited claims of a ‘white genocide’.

“Our visit came at a time when US-SA relations have come under increasing strain, largely as a result of misinformation peddled by fringe groups in our two countries, including a false narrative about a so-called genocide and an orchestrated campaign of violence against white farmers.

“In this context, it was critical for us to engage directly with the US administration to correct misinformation and provide a true account of the progress we have made as a democracy and the many and complex challenges we still face.”

Ramaphosa also confirmed that he had extended an invitation to Trump to send a government and business delegation to South Africa to explore opportunities for deepening investment and trade, but provided no specifics.

Describing the US as a key export market for South African motor vehicles, agricultural products and critical minerals, Ramaphosa argued that there was potential to increase and diversify trade, citing in particular areas such as gas, mining and critical minerals, agriculture and nuclear products.

“One of the key outcomes of the substantive discussions we had with President Trump was agreement on an economic cooperation channel between the US administration and South Africa to engage further on tariffs and a broad range of trade matters.

“President Trump agreed that the US should continue playing a key role in the G20, including attending the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg later this year, where South Africa will hand over the presidency of the G20 to the US.”