{"id":861184,"date":"2026-05-22T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=861184"},"modified":"2026-05-22T12:10:03","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T10:10:03","slug":"ramaphosas-top-official-in-the-united-states-meets-trump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/government\/861184\/ramaphosas-top-official-in-the-united-states-meets-trump\/","title":{"rendered":"Ramaphosa’s top official in the United States meets Trump"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

South Africa’s Ambassador to the US, Roelf Meyer, has met with US President Donald Trump, with the legendary statesman facing a tough task to restore relations between South Africa and the US. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meyer is a key ally of President Cyril Ramaphosa and was named the next ambassador to the US following the US government’s expulsion of Ebrahim Rasool as ambassador last year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ramaphosa worked closely with Meyer, a former member of the National Party, during negotiations leading up to South Africa\u2019s 1994 democratic elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meyer and Ramaphosa have maintained a well-publicised friendship despite their vastly different origins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was a member of parliament from 1979 to 1997. He was also the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Constitutional Affairs and Communication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After leaving the National Party, he co-founded the United Democratic Movement (UDM), which is currently a member of the Government of National Unity (GNU). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meyer faces a challenging role, given the rapid deterioration in relations between South Africa and the United States since Trump’s return as President. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump has accused South Africa of conducting a white genocide, threatened sanctions and announced tariffs of 30% on South African goods last year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The US also shunned the G20 conference in South Africa last year. South African officials have also not received accreditation for the G20 in Miami this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meyer arrives in America<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Cyril Ramaphosa and Roelf Meyer when they were younger (Source: Nelson Mandela University)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Meyer has now arrived in Washington, D.C. and has presented his credentials to Trump, alongside several other international ambassadors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking with SABC News<\/a>, Meyer said that the US President could not engage with every ambassador on specific issues and spoke with them as a group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, the ambassador said that the experience was very “cordial” and “pleasant,” which are not often terms given by South African officials when referring to the American President. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meyer said that he will represent the South African government and all of the political parties that form the GNU. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ambassador added that his work for the role has now begun, with preparatory work set to go on for the next two to three weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He will then report to the South African government on the current relationship and receive a path forward for it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Meyer, one thing is important: removing the hurdles facing the current relationship between the countries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that removing these barriers will be crucial for South Africa’s economic growth and job creation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He noted that President Ramaphosa outlined what he would like the ambassador to achieve during his tenure in the US. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meyer said that the President wants a relationship that produces results. This will include highlighting the realities facing South Africa to the US. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite American officials claiming a white genocide in South Africa, many have noted that the crime against white South Africans, while high, is far lower than that of other racial groups in the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

US Ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell III recently delivered a list of five asks to South Africa. These five asks include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n