Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya has expressed hope that the US President Donald Trump will visit Pretoria ahead of the G20 summit this year to clear air between two states.
One of the main topics of the press conference, which was given by Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya on Wednesday morning in Cape Town, was the possibility of a meeting between the two heads of state.
Magwenya said that Ramaphosa intends to welcome in a state visit ahead of the G20 summit. South Africa will hold the summit in November this year.
The US will hold it in 2026.
“We are still hoping that President Trump will visit South Africa ahead of the G20 Summit when we get that final round of heads of state. It remains President Ramaphosa’s intention to welcome him on a state visit.
"We are hoping that there will be time even for a round of golf. We have been trying to urge the president to steal a bit more time to get his swing back in order and back in the groove so that when he takes President Trump out for a round of golf, he’s able to put up a decent game,” said Magwenya.
This statement follows Trump’s threat to suspend funding for the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to South Africa, pending an investigation into allegations of land expropriation.
Trump emphasised that the US would not condone such actions.
Trump’s comments came in the wake of Ramaphosa’s signing of the Expropriation Bill into law just a week prior.
In response, Ramaphosa firmly rejected these claims, reiterating that South Africa operates as a constitutional democracy.
However, Magwenya highlighted that the South African government would engage further, not only with Trump and his advisor Elon Musk, but also with other key stakeholders in the United States.
Magwenya also noted that the Trump administration had misinterpreted the Expropriation Act. He said only Public Works Minister, Dean Macpherson can play not only in leading the process but also communicating in a manner which will guide the process.
He further stressed that the United States was South Africa's second-largest trading partner.
Meanwhile, Magwenya slammed AfriForum saying it was blowing the Expropriation Act out of proportion and instilling fear among citizens.
AfriForum had written to the US requesting them to only punish ANC politicians for going ahead with Act.
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