Cyril Ramaphosa coy on whether he'll meet Elon Musk on US trip

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Washington DC for a high-level Working Visit aimed at resetting and revitalising South Africa’s bilateral relations with the United States.

Touching down on Monday, Ramaphosa appeared upbeat as he greeted the media with a smile and wave before heading to his hotel.

The visit will culminate on Wednesday with a meeting between President Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump at the White House.

The meeting is expected to focus on enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, and diplomacy.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya described the visit as a “significant step” in reshaping the bilateral economic and political relationship between the two nations.

Focus on trade and AGOA

Magwenya emphasised that trade, particularly the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), will be at the centre of talks.

AGOA allows duty-free access for selected sub-Saharan African exports to the US, but recent tariff hikes by the Trump administration – such as a 31% increase on South African goods – have cast uncertainty over its future.

“If the Trump administration has decided to do away with AGOA, we are ready to present a new framework for bilateral trade,” said Magwenya.

Addressing misconceptions and sensitive issues

The visit comes amid persistent US media narratives regarding the “persecution” of white South African farmers.

Magwenya dismissed such claims, asserting, “The whole world knows there is no persecution of any particular race in South Africa.”

He said the president will briefly address the matter, but will not let it overshadow the central goal of strengthening economic ties.

G20 and global diplomacy

Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit also comes during South Africa’s G20 Presidency.

Questions were raised about the perceived absence of high-level US participation in recent ministerial meetings.

Magwenya clarified that the US remains engaged in the G20 Troika and confirmed that an invitation to President Trump for the upcoming summit remains open.

Ramaphosa’s confidence in engagement

When asked about possible apprehension over meeting President Trump, Magwenya responded: “No, he’s not apprehensive at all. There may be robust discussions, but that’s the nature of these engagements.”

He also noted that the president is prepared, confident, and focused on a productive and mutually respectful dialogue.

Will Ramaphosa meet Elon Musk?

Speculation over a possible meeting with South Africa-born tech entrepreneur Elon Musk was addressed, with Magwenya saying the president’s schedule is still being finalised and no such meeting has yet been confirmed.

“Well, we’ve just arrived. We’re going to be briefed by our team that advanced here, and so we will take direction from them in terms of what has been done, what has been prepared, and the allocations.”