NATIONAL NEWS - South Africans are waiting with bated breath to see what transpires at this week's meeting between the top-level South African delegation and the United States President, Donald Trump, on Wednesday.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his delegation left for the US yesterday, hoping to reset South Africa's strategic partnership with the economic powerhouse during their meeting with Trump at the White House in Washington DC.
The South African delegation, including four ministers, Ronald Lamola, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, John Steenhuisen and Parks Tau, will have to overcome and address a number of highly contentious issues that are leaving Trump hot under the collar.
These include the Afrikaner genocide narrative, South Africa's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, its close ties with China, its perceived relationship with Iran, BEE policies and the tariffs levied on US imports - to name but a few.
According to Ramaphosa, the meeting will focus on a range of bilateral, regional and global matters.
The visit comes hot on the heels of the arrival of 49 Afrikaners in the US, who qualified for refugee status amid claims of a so-called genocide of Afrikaner farmers in South Africa.
Ramaphosa insists that the 49 people who left the country do not meet the criteria for refugee status, as, according to him, they have not been subject to persecution on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, or political belief.
Ramaphosa says the claims of genocide do not reflect the realities of life in South Africa, but Trump and his advisor, billionaire Elon Musk, maintain that Afrikaners are being persecuted and that violent farm attacks and the many South African race laws are proof of this.
John Steenhuisen, the leader of the DA and national minister of agriculture in the GNU. Photo: supplied
Steenhuisen: 'We dare not fail'
In a statement released by the Democratic Alliance this morning, John Steenhuisen, the leader of the DA, who is joining Ramaphosa as minister of agriculture in the government of national unity (GNU), says the highest issues on his priority list will be securing trade relations between the US and SA, particularly in agriculture, to protect jobs, grow the economy and expand employment opportunities.
He says South Africa's relationship with the US is one of immense importance. "Preferential trade agreements such as Agoa contribute significantly to our economy. Losing these benefits would be disastrous for farmers, farm workers and the economy at large.
"Relationships between countries are never simple. We cannot pretend that we are not facing unique challenges in our country.
"This delegation to Washington DC represents all South Africans, who have entrusted us to put the shared national interests, and desire for economic growth and job creation first, ahead of any party, or ideological positions.
"As a proud member of this GNU delegation, I will endeavour to ensure every effort is made to mend, and improve relations between the US and SA.
Steenhuisen says there is a renewed hope in South Africans, thanks to the formation of the GNU.
"We dare not fail them on our mission to increase economic growth, and job opportunities for all South Africans. South Africa will work if South Africans can get work."
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