South African president, Ramaphosa moves to ‘mend relations’ with Trump following aid cuts

Speaking at a conference organized by U.S. bank Goldman Sachs in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa expressed his desire to “do a deal” with Trump to resolve tensions over South Africa’s land reform policies.

This development follows Trump’s decision to cut aid to South Africa, citing concerns over the country’s land expropriation policies and its stance on international legal matters.

The fallout between the two leaders has further complicated diplomatic and economic ties, with Ramaphosa now seeking to rebuild relations through direct engagement.

According to a Reuters report, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that he wanted tensions with the U.S. to ease following Trump’s recent executive order but emphasized his long-term goal of visiting Washington to restore diplomatic ties.

“We don’t want to go and explain ourselves. We want to go and do a meaningful deal with the United States on a whole range of issues,” Ramaphosa said, adding that he was “positively inclined to promoting a good relationship with President Trump.”

While the report did not specify the exact nature of the potential deal, it suggested that discussions could involve trade, diplomatic, and political matters.

Defending South Africa’s land reform policy, Ramaphosa reaffirmed that the process was constitutional and aimed at addressing historical injustices from the apartheid era. He denied claims that the law permitted arbitrary land seizures, emphasizing that land expropriation would be conducted fairly.

Before recent tensions, South Africa and the United States maintained strong economic ties, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $21 billion in 2023.

The U.S. also provided nearly $440 million in assistance to South Africa that year, according to the most recent U.S. government data.

Additionally, the U.S. remains a key investor in South Africa, with over 600 American companies operating in the country, employing approximately 148,000 people. However, these economic relations have been strained following the Trump administration’s decision to cut aid to South Africa.

Trump condemned South Africa’s land reform policy, arguing that it violated property rights and posed risks to economic stability.

His administration also cited South Africa’s stance on international issues—particularly its genocide accusation against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ)—as a contributing factor in the decision to suspend aid.