Cape Town: Cabinet has welcomed the reset of strategic relationships between South Africa (SA) and the United States (US) during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s working visit to the United States of America. Speaking during a post-Cabinet briefing in Cape Town, Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni stated that the SA and US teams will finalize the details of the trade deal between the two countries.
According to South African Government News Agency, the objectives that SA had set for the trip have been met. The Cabinet looks forward to the continued participation of the US administration in the G20, including the possible attendance of President Trump at the G20 Leaders’ Summit. President Cyril Ramaphosa concluded a working visit to Washington DC last week Wednesday, with the meeting at the Oval House attended by senior US and South African officials.
The South African delegation included several Cabinet Ministers, notable business figures, and prominent South Africans. President Ramaphosa was accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, Minister Ntshavheni, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau, and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen. Johann Rupert, Founder of Richemont and Chairman of Remgro, Vice President of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) Adrian Gore, and President of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Zingiswa Losi were also part of the delegation. Pro golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen were in attendance as well.
On the US side, President Trump was accompanied by key officials including Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Special Government Employee Elon Musk, and Dr Massad Boulos, who acts as a Senior Advisor for Africa and on Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs.
In addition to these talks, Cabinet welcomed the working visit by Deputy President Paul Mashatile aimed at strengthening relations between South Africa and France. The Deputy President and the SA delegation attended the SA-France Investment Conference to improve investments by French companies into South Africa and vice versa, establishing partnerships through the African Continental Free Trade Area.