Ramaphosa has come under fire from Former Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) president Bonang Mohale, who criticized the president for what he described as a missed opportunity to firmly and effectively defend South Africa’s position during a high-profile meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Mohale, Ramaphosa failed to challenge Trump’s controversial claims with the clarity and assertiveness required on such a prominent international stage.
Ramaphosa met Trump at the Oval Office on Wednesday to discuss the state of U.S.-South Africa diplomatic relations. While the meeting was expected to focus on trade, investment, and diplomatic cooperation, it was dominated by Trump’s controversial and unfounded claims of a “genocide” against white South African farmers.
Despite Ramaphosa’s attempts to dispel the accusations, Trump remained unconvinced, even playing video footage of members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) chanting the provocative “kill the Boer” slogan. The clips were used by Trump as supposed evidence to justify his claims, which have been widely discredited by analysts and human rights organizations.
Mohale says Ramaphosa and his team were not prepared for such an aggressive line of questioning and failed to deliver a powerful and coherent rebuttal. “Now we want to convince somebody who has clearly made up his mind,” Mohale said in a media interview. “His problem is the United States of America, not here at home. We are just collateral.”
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He added that Ramaphosa and his delegation should have presented a clearer and stronger message to challenge the disinformation. “We should have been concise, precise, and clear as daylight. That’s what we needed,” Mohale emphasized. “There was an opportunity not just to defend South Africa’s integrity, but to set the record straight for a global audience.”
The Oval Office encounter has sparked broad commentary across diplomatic, political, and media circles—both in South Africa and abroad—raising deeper questions about how effectively South African leaders represent national interests on the world stage.
Many observers believe Ramaphosa was caught off guard by the intensity of Trump’s rhetoric, which has often leaned toward sensationalism and polarizing narratives. Instead of seizing the moment to categorically dismantle the genocide myth, critics argue that Ramaphosa’s delegation responded with too much restraint and ambiguity.
The incident has once again spotlighted South Africa’s complicated internal dynamics, particularly the political rhetoric surrounding land reform, historical injustices, and the economic marginalization of the Black majority. While Ramaphosa has consistently stated that land redistribution will be handled lawfully and without violence, the global portrayal of South Africa—fueled by misinformation—remains a point of concern.
During the same visit, Ramaphosa reiterated that it was “unfair and inaccurate” to compare the treatment of Black South Africans under apartheid to the supposed targeting of white farmers today. “There is no genocide happening in South Africa,” he said, “and to equate our democratic processes with racial violence is disingenuous and misleading.”
Still, Mohale believes the moment demanded more than a diplomatic dismissal. “When faced with populist narratives and misinformation, you must counter it not only with facts but with conviction and clarity,” he said. “Otherwise, the lie gains traction, and the world is left with the wrong impression of our country.”
The controversy also comes at a time when South Africa is working to strengthen its international trade relationships amid growing economic challenges at home. Ramaphosa’s administration has placed significant emphasis on restoring global investor confidence, yet missteps in handling high-profile meetings such as this could undermine those efforts.
As fallout from the meeting continues, there is a growing call among business leaders and analysts for Ramaphosa to improve the strategic communication of South Africa’s policies and progress on the global stage. According to Mohale, if South Africa is to be respected and understood internationally, its leadership must “master the art of diplomacy with strength and vision.”
The meeting with Trump, intended to build diplomatic bridges, may instead serve as a cautionary tale for how critical international engagement must be approached—with preparation, assertiveness, and a clear sense of national purpose.
Source- EWN
