Australia and the World Past and Present

It hasn’t been only Volodymyr Zelenskyy who has had to brawl with Donald Trump in the Oval Office in recent times.

South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, also had to deal with the mercurial US leader on May 21.

The US-South Africa relationship had been deteriorating. Trump had been drawing attention to attacks on white farmers in South Africa and had even suggested that a genocide against them may have been taking place. Land seizures of white farms was another issue that he had been raising in the media.

Ramaphosa declared in the meeting, “we are essentially here to reset the relationship between the United States and South Africa.”

He attempted to focus on trade and drew attention the long history of US firms operating in South Africa.

It seemed clear that a reset to the relationship was in order. Trump – that foremost disruptor of international relations – was forcing South African leaders to think about the best way to approach his administration. They wanted to positively influence him, or at least get him to stop alleging that a genocide was taking place within their country.

It seems that the leadership team believed that focusing on business and trade would be an important element. They probably concluded that this was the way to placate the former businessman.

Ramaphosa talked about the critical minerals of his country.

He also talked about his desire to see South Africa “reindustrialise”. That is an interesting phrase. South Africa is one of the most developed economies in Africa. Perhaps Ramaphosa was of the view that there there had been a decline in recent times and wants to reinvigorate industry.

The South African delegation tried to woo Trump. They presented him with a 14 kilogram book about South African golf courses.

The delegation was also stacked with golfing legends in attempt to appeal to one of Trump’s passions. Ernie Els was there as was Retief Goosen.

Clearly Ramaphosa wanted to get away from the cameras towards a “quiet table” where discussions could proceed in a better way. The meeting wasn’t so much a discussion as a roast of one world leader by another. Trump was playing for the cameras.

Trump had a video of an Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) rally played during the meeting.

Some of the language of the EFF and its leader, Julius Malema, is indeed very concerning.

Ramaphosa did his best to point out that the EFF did not represent the South African government.

The Trump-Ramaphosa meeting resembled an episode of candid camera.

It was chaotic and seemed aimed at humiliating the South African President.

Images were shown of white crosses representing white farmer deaths.

Ramaphosa responded that criminality was an unfortunate part of South African life and that the majority of the victims of crime are black.

Trump elevated the these issues to the global stage. Why did he choose to focus on South Africa and the attacks on white farmers?

Perhaps his close relationship with Elon Musk had a lot to do with it. Trump suggested as much when he said “This is what Elon wanted”.

There was little in the meeting pointing to a way forward.

Ramaphosa suggested that issues of criminality are linked to factors such as poverty and unemployment.

Trump seized on some critical issues affecting South Africa today. The South African delegation tried to bring the charm offensive, but Trump had his sound bites for the day and the meeting was over.