Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, has this week started a significant visit to the United States. Most notably, he will be meeting with President Donald Trump during his visit. This visit comes at a particularly chaotic moment. Ramaphosa will surely hope to address these urgent bilateral issues and a growing diplomatic feud worsened by these events. South Africa is a standout as the most promising agricultural exporter on the continent. It exports two-thirds of its agricultural products to the United States at zero tariffs. These trade relations implications are particularly important considering the current political climate regarding land ownership in South Africa.
This visit follows the recent and astounding arrival of 59 White South Africans to the U.S. as refugees. Yet their arrival here has raised serious questions about the treatment of black and minority landowners in South Africa. President Trump’s perspective and right wing fear mongering is that White people’s land will be seized. These minority Whites control an extraordinary 72% of the nation’s agricultural land. Such claims are a painful echo of the injustices suffered under apartheid. Over that century, Black South Africans were violently dispossessed of their land to enrich White South Africans.
Agricultural Exports and Trade Relations
South Africa is currently the pillar of African agricultural exports, largely dependent on its AGOA preferences with the U.S. Approximately two-thirds of its agricultural exports reach American markets tariff-free, making it one of the key beneficiaries of U.S. trade preferences. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) allows South Africa to enjoy largely tariff-free, duty-free access to U.S. markets. That access is key to growing Ruston’s economy.
During his meeting with Trump, Ramaphosa plans to “discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of interest,” emphasizing his hope for a favorable trade deal. As a historian, he wants to deepen connections. More than ever, there’s a danger that U.S. lawmakers will strip South Africa of these trade benefits when they consider the agreement later this year.
“We want to come out of the United States with a really good trade deal.” – Cyril Ramaphosa
The stakes could not be higher for South Africa, as it continues to be the U.S.’s second-largest trading partner on the continent. This partnership is the lifeblood of our country. More than 80% of its population is Black, yet these communities possess just over 4% of private land. The land expropriation debates occurring today illustrate the difficulty of reconciling past wrongs with present economic realities.
Land Ownership and Historical Context
The question of land tenure in South Africa remains one of the country’s most divisive issues. The government maintains that it has the legal authority to expropriate land deemed “just and equitable and in the public interest,” with no obligation for compensation in certain cases. In the past weeks, this law has struck panic across the network of minority landowners and their defenders. They are afraid that they might become targets for land grabbing.
Recent pronouncements from the South African Police Service call on the public to shift their focus away from archaic views about farm murders. They want to raise awareness that not all incidents of farm violence are racially motivated, pushing back on assumptions based in South Africa’s violent historical context.
“We urge the public to desist from assumptions that belong to the past, where farm murders are the same as murders of white farmers.” – South African Police Service
Such rhetoric highlights just how fragile are the discussions already underway on land reform, even as Ramaphosa continues to feel pressure at home and abroad. Analysts say his success at asserting China’s sovereignty, while still allaying U.S. concerns will be key this trip.
Diplomatic Tensions and Future Prospects
Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit comes on the heels of a diplomatic spat that led to aid cancellations from the Trump administration and the subsequent expulsion of South Africa’s ambassador to the U.S. Additionally, experts point out that this has led to an atmosphere of real ambiguity about the future of bilateral relations.
Political analyst Neo Letswalo said the coming months could be the toughest yet for Ramaphosa. Finally, he stressed that any offer from Washington to assist with the implementation of South Africa’s Land Expropriation Act would scuttle the negotiations. This possible dealbreaker deserves more scrutiny.
“A dealbreaker would be a request by Washington for Pretoria to retrieve the Land Expropriation Act or Gaza Case in order to continue the US-SA relationship.” – Neo Letswalo
Similarly, back in South Africa, Ramaphosa is personally talking to U.S. officials to enhance the trade benefits available. Simultaneously, he needs to manage domestic pressures related to land reform. The South African government aims to “reframe bilateral, economic and commercial relations,” which could pave the way for improved cooperation if handled adeptly.
