South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to visit the White House this week, aiming to counter controversial narratives about his country while advancing opportunities for economic collaboration—particularly involving Elon Musk, the New York Times reports.
The visit comes amid heightened tensions between South Africa and the United States during President Donald Trump’s second term. Mr. Trump has repeatedly accused South Africa of perpetrating a “white genocide” against Afrikaner farmers, a claim widely disputed by human rights organizations and South African authorities. In May, the Trump administration granted refugee status to a group of Afrikaners, expelling South Africa’s ambassador and cutting off foreign aid in the process.
President Ramaphosa intends to directly address what his government sees as misinformation during his meeting with Mr. Trump. According to South African police statistics, between April 2020 and March 2024, 225 people were killed on farms—101 of them were Black workers or residents, and 53 were farmers, who are often white. The data undercuts claims of a racially targeted campaign.
Ramaphosa is also expected to call for an independent investigation into the genocide allegations.
“We welcome any credible international effort to establish the facts,” said Vincent Magwenya, a spokesperson for the president.
At the same time, Ramaphosa will look to reset economic relations and explore new business ventures, particularly with Elon Musk. Born in South Africa, Musk has used his platform on X (formerly Twitter) to amplify the genocide narrative. Despite this, Ramaphosa has made several attempts to reconnect with Musk, and hopes to pitch business opportunities—such as building Tesla charging infrastructure and potential SpaceX launches from South African soil.
The visit will also involve a delicate balancing act on foreign policy. Mr. Ramaphosa is expected to contrast the US administration’s accusations against South Africa with its support for Israel, especially in light of South Africa’s 2023 genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. While this comparison is likely to provoke controversy, South African officials argue it highlights perceived double standards.
Despite philosophical and diplomatic differences, South Africa remains a key US trading partner. In 2023, South Africa exported nearly $14 billion in goods to the US, while importing over $7 billion. Ramaphosa is expected to propose a new trade agreement focused on areas like energy and technology, betting that economic cooperation could ease political friction.
