President Cyril Ramaphosa has spent his first night in Washington DC where he will meet US president Donald Trump for the first time in what is expected to be robust negotiations between the two heads of state.
Ramaphosa is accompanied by ministers Ronald Lamola, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Parks Tau and John Steenhuisen, with his special envoy to the US, Mcebisi Jonas, joining the government leaders, the presidency said on Monday.
The bilateral talks between the two heads of state come after months of tensions around Trump's perceived persecution of white people in South Africa. TimesLIVE Premium takes a look at the timeline of the relationship between the two states.
Bad things happening in South Africa: February 2
Trump accuses South Africa on Truth Social of confiscating land and treating certain classes of people very badly. “The United States won’t stand for it, we will act. Also, I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed,” he says.
We will not be bullied: February 6
Ramaphosa fights back by addressing Trump during his state of the nation address. The president announces he will send envoys across the world to explain South Africa's position.
“We are witnessing the rise of nationalism and protectionism, the pursuit of narrow interests and the decline of common cause. This is the world that we, as a developing economy, must now navigate. But we are not daunted. We will not be deterred. We are a resilient people. We will not be bullied. We will stand together as a united nation,” Ramaphosa says.
US officials snub G20: February 6
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announces on X that he will not be attending the G20 foreign ministers summit, casting doubt on whether the US would participate in the talks.
“I will NOT attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg. South Africa is doing very bad things. Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote ‘solidarity, equality & sustainability.’ In other words: DEI and climate change. My job is to advance America’s national interests, not waste taxpayer money or coddle anti-Americanism,” he posts on social media.
Two weeks later US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announces he will also not attend the G20 finance ministers meeting, citing domestic obligations in Washington, DC.
Trump's executive orders: February 7
Following Rubio's announcement, Trump quickly announces executive orders against South Africa. The US president accuses South Africa of immoral practice and using the Expropriation Act to enable the government to seize ethnic minority Afrikaners’ agricultural property without compensation.
“It is the policy of the United States that, as long as South Africa continues these unjust and immoral practices that harm our nation: The United States shall not provide aid or assistance to South Africa; and the United States shall promote the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees escaping government-sponsored, race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation,” he announces.
Afrikaner rights groups visit Washington: February 26
The Solidarity Movement and AfriForum delegation meet the Trump administration in what they claim is a fight for the interests of Afrikaners and South Africa.
The team delivers the “Washington memoradum” — a list of requests for the US to intensify pressure on ANC leaders to revise the Bela and Expropriation acts and “enter into a cultural agreement with Afrikaners that will provide cultural space for Afrikaners in South Africa, which includes the existence of Afrikaans educational institutions”.
DA meets with the Trump administration: March 5
The DA undertakes a week-long working visit to the US to smooth relations between the two countries.
The DA delegation includes Andrew Whitfield in his capacity as DA provincial leader for the Eastern Cape and federal executive member, and MP Emma Powell in her capacity as the party’s national spokesperson on foreign affairs.
“It was clear from discussions that much work must be done to rebuild bilateral trust. The DA has consistently called for a comprehensive reform of South Africa’s foreign policy agenda and the consistent application of our policy of non-alignment in advancing our national interest,” Powell says.
US cancels USAID: March 10
Rubio announces the US government is officially cancelling 83% of the programmes at USAID. He writes on X the 5,200 contracts that are now cancelled spent tens of billions of dollars in “ways that did not serve, and in some cases even harmed the core national interests of the United States”.
He adds that in consultation with Congress, the US government intends for the remaining 18% of programs it is keeping (about 1,000) to now be administered more effectively under the State Department.
US expels SA ambassador Ebrahim Rasool: March 15
Rubio announces on X that Rasool was “no longer welcome” in the US, accusing him of race-baiting and hating America and Trump. “We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered persona non grata.”
This was in reaction to Rasool's comments at a foreign policy seminar where he reportedly told attendees that Trump was leading a white supremacist movement in America and the world.
Trump appoints US ambassador to SA: March 25
Trump appoints conservative activist Brent Bozell III as his ambassador to South Africa. A Trump ally, Bozell is the founder of the Media Research Centre, which claims to play a crucial role in countering left-wing bias in news media and popular culture.
Trump's sweeping punitive tariffs: April 2
The US president announces sweeping global tariffs, with a 10% tariff on all imports to the US and additional reciprocal tariffs of 30% for South Africa. South Africa announces it will not hit back with tariffs on the US.
Ramaphosa announces US envoy: April 14
The presidency announces former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas as South Africa's envoy to the US. Jonas's responsibility is to advance South Africa's diplomatic, trade and bilateral priorities. He is also entrusted to lead negotiations, foster strategic partnerships and engage with US government officials and private-sector leaders to promote the country's interests.
The two heads of state talk: April 24
Ramaphosa and Trump talk for the first time since the US president's inauguration. The phone call between the two leaders is precipitated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky working visit to South Africa.
Group of Afrikaners take up Trump's offer: May 11
The first group of white South Africans granted 'refugee status' for being deemed victims of racial discrimination under an offer by Trump leaves South Africa. This raises tensions between the two countries with South Africa taking offence at the US government describing the group as refugees.
Trump invites Ramaphosa to the White House: May 14
The presidency announces Ramaphosa will embark on a working visit to the US from May 19-22. The president is expected to meet Trump on Wednesday to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of interest.
“The president's visit to the US provides a platform to reset the strategic relationship between the two countries,” the presidency said.
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