President Cyril Ramaphosa will travel to the United States from 19 to 22 May 2025 on a working visit that will include a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C. This will be the first time the two leaders meet, and it will mark the first visit by a South African president to the US since Ramaphosa met then-President Joe Biden in 2022.
The South African presidency said the visit aims to “reset the strategic relationship” between the two countries. While further details are expected closer to the meeting, the timing comes during a period of rising tensions between Pretoria and Washington.
Cyril Ramaphosa’s US trip: Here’s what’s at stake
One of the central issues is a new refugee programme launched by the Trump administration in February 2025. Under this programme, 49 white Afrikaners from South Africa were granted refugee status by the United States. They arrived in Washington on a private charter flight and were welcomed by US officials.
The White House has said these individuals were fleeing “unspeakable horrors.” But critics, including the South African government, say the claims of genocide or targeted violence are false and politically driven.
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) responded by saying, “Allegations of discrimination are unfounded,” noting that official crime data does not support the idea that white farmers are being targeted.
DIRCO also confirmed that those who left the country are still South African citizens.
The refugee claims have caused backlash in South Africa. Deputy President Paul Mashatile has invited President Trump to visit and see conditions in South Africa firsthand.
“There is no genocide here,” he said.
The issue has also sparked tension within the United States.
The Episcopal Church, which has worked with the US government for nearly four decades on refugee resettlement, announced that it would not assist in resettling the Afrikaner group.
Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe said the decision was based on the church’s “commitment to racial justice” and concerns about fairness. He questioned why this group received fast-track refugee status while others have waited years.
The White House condemned the church’s stance.
“This decision raises serious questions about its supposed commitment to humanitarian aid,” Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said.
Another layer of tension involves South Africa’s land reform policy and its case at the International Court of Justice against Israel. These have drawn criticism from the Trump administration.
In February, President Trump signed an executive order to cut all US funding to South Africa in response.
Ramaphosa’s visit is expected to focus on repairing relations and addressing these issues directly with Trump. As stated by the presidency, the meeting will cover “bilateral, regional and global issues of interest.” These topics are likely to include trade, human rights, and political cooperation.
This meeting will be closely watched, as it could set the tone for future relations between the two countries at a time when both are facing international scrutiny over their policies.