NewsHail
25 May 2025
President Cyril Ramaphosa went to Washington this week with hopes of getting a trade deal. He also wanted to improve ties with the US after months of tension with Donald Trump.
But things didn’t go as planned.
The meeting turned into a harsh and public show. Trump made strong claims and acted in a rude way. Many people around the world saw it happen live. It felt more like a public job review than a friendly talk.
Ramaphosa stayed calm. He did not fight back much, which some people praised. Others wished he had stood up to Trump more. But when he returns to South Africa, he faces big problems.
His party, the ANC, is in a shaky coalition with 10 other parties. This happened after the ANC lost support in recent elections. The coalition has argued over land laws, health care, and a tax plan that would hurt the poor. These fights nearly ended the coalition earlier this year.
The country’s problems are serious. The economy is not growing. Crime, corruption, and joblessness are high. Public services are failing. Roads, power, and water systems are in bad shape. Many leaders who break the law face no punishment.
Ramaphosa is being asked hard questions by other parties and by citizens. Even the ANC is split. Factions are already fighting ahead of the party’s next big meeting in 2027, when a new leader might take over.
Ramaphosa’s loudest critics, like EFF leader Julius Malema and former president Jacob Zuma, are getting more attention. Trump even showed a video of Malema singing a song that some think promotes hate against white farmers. A court ruled it was political speech.
Ramaphosa had hoped to secure trade help from the US. He wanted more American investment to create jobs and reduce crime. The US may not renew a trade deal called AGOA. That deal lets South Africa sell goods in the US without paying extra taxes. It has helped South Africa’s economy.
But trade talks were pushed aside when Trump brought up false claims about attacks on white farmers. Even so, some good may come from this for Ramaphosa.
Yes, he still faces huge problems. Yes, the ANC is weaker than ever. But it is still in power, even if it must share that power. And Ramaphosa’s calm reaction showed many people that he is a skilled leader.
He helped end apartheid in the 1990s. He kept South Africa together when some feared it would break apart. He led the country through the Zuma years and the Covid crisis. He even kept the ANC alive after its poor election showing in 2024.
“He does well in tough moments,” says Verashni Pillay, a South African editor. “He has a lot of experience with high-stress talks, even when there was real danger. That’s why he looked so calm.”
Polls show that people still trust him more than his party. A recent study found that the ANC would lose even more support without him. Many still think he is too slow to fix the country’s big problems, but they also see him as a steady hand.
“This meeting might help him,” says Pillay. “It showed South Africans what he brings: calm, skill, and experience.”
The GNU may also gain support. Ramaphosa was joined by DA leader John Steenhuisen and businessman Johann Rupert – both white South Africans. They pushed back against Trump’s false claims. Their presence helped show that the GNU is more than just the ANC. It was a team effort. That image matters to South Africans.
“It was a smart move,” says analyst Itumeleng Makgetla. “It showed unity. It gave the GNU a chance to shine.”
So what does this mean for South Africa’s far-left and far-right groups?
Trump gave Malema a global stage, but it may not help him. Some think Malema and Zuma’s MK party might gain support from people angry at Trump. But Pillay disagrees.
“This won’t help Malema much,” she says. “Many top leaders in the EFF already left to join MK. People are tired of his angry style. Most South Africans want progress, not chaos.”
Still, some people want faster change. That’s why MK gained votes in the last election.
What about Afriforum, the group that told Trump false stories about attacks on white farmers? Trump’s video was their biggest moment. But many in South Africa are upset with them.
“Even people who don’t like the ANC now see that some groups are not helping the country,” says Prof TK Pooe.
“Many Afrikaners are people of colour,” says Pillay. “Afriforum hurt their own cause by making it about race.”
Afriforum’s Kallie Kriel defended the group on TV. He said they were not the ones singing hateful songs. He said the US has its own information from its embassy.
As things calm down, Ramaphosa will be thinking carefully. He has helped lead South Africa through many big changes. He knows how to read a crisis.
This week may not have brought the trade win he wanted. But it may have helped him at home. South Africans saw his steady hand. And that may be just what the country needs right now.
