The involvement of South African multi-billionaire, Johann Rupert, in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to Washington might help to open Donald Trump’s eyes to misinformation created about the treatment of Afrikaners and white farmers. 

This was a view of a political analyst from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Sakhile Hadebe, amid news that Rupert, who is an Afrikaner farmer and mining magnate, was possibly part of the Ramaphosa-led team expected to meet the American President on Wednesday afternoon.

The team departed South Africa on Monday. 

News 24 reported that Rupert would be part of the delegation. 

According to the presidency’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, Ramaphosa was accompanied by  Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Trade, Industry, Competition, Parks Tau, Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen and the Special Envoy to the United States of America, Mcebisi Jonas.

Ramaphosa’s visit to the US followed Trump’s signing an executive order early this year that accused  South Africa of subjecting the white Afrikaner farming community to genocide and discriminatory transformative policies, which included expropriation of land without compensation.    

A group of more than 49 Afrikaners left South Africa last week after accepting Trump’s offer for them to emigrate. 

“I think Ramaphosa saw it necessary to bring along well-established people, and we know that Rupert is one of the people who are running the show,” said Radebe.

He said the relationship between South Africa and the US had reached its lowest level in the history of the democratic dispensation. 

“Therefore, he thought that with this situation so strained between South Africa and the US, it was important to bring along people who are running the country, in terms of the economy.

“Since Trump is also a businessman, they (Trump and Rupert) will speak the same language,” said Radebe. 

According to reports, Rupert was frustrated by Trump referring to Afrikaners as refugees and victims of genocide.

Radebe said people, including Afrikaners, could not be happy with the misinformation about South Africa, “because this is not true, but pure fabrication”.

“It would ruin our reputation as the country, and therefore, a person like Rupert is important,” he said. 

IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said it was not uncommon for Ramaphosa to include business people whenever he undertakes international working visits. 

The party, which is part of the Government of National Unity, was hoping for a positive outcome from the negotiations, saying “there is a lot that is at stake”.

“We expect that there should be push back on the propaganda and that he (Ramaphosa) clarifies policy position and mends relations between these two countries. 

“There is a lot of trade between South Africa and the United States, with the Agoa (African Growth and Opportunity Act) in place.

“With South Africa being the outgoing chair of the G20 and the United States being the incoming chair, we have to work together,” said Hlengwa.

He said it was also expected that the leaders would have positive engagements on the issues of Ukraine and the Middle East conflicts, which need to be defused.

Announcing that he would be part of the delegation, DA leader Steenhuisen said his role would be to secure trade relations between the US and South Africa, particularly in agriculture, to protect jobs, grow the economy and expand employment opportunities.

“South Africa’s relationship with the United States is one of immense importance. Preferential trade agreements such as AGOA contribute significantly to our economy. 

“Losing these benefits would be disastrous for farmers, farm workers and the economy at large,” said Steenhuisen in a statement released on Monday.

His party and Freedom Front Plus declined to comment on Rupert’s involvement. 

International relations expert Dr Noluthando Phungula said the involvement of Rupert was in line with Trump’s decision to increase tariffs imposed on South African products.

“What does SA export to the US? Nothing but our precious minerals as raw materials.

“Who owns the mines that mine and export these minerals? Johan Rupert,” she said.

Phungula said the main focus of the visit was not so much about Afrikaners’ migration, but about trade relations and Rupert’s business interests because “money listens to money.”

She said the delegation should remind Trump that South Africa is a sovereign constitutional democracy. 

“The reality is that granting refugee status to a privileged minority from a democratic country in the absence of violence or even conflict undermines the legitimacy of the country’s democracy.

“Pretoria has a responsibility to engage and respond to the false claims and finally reaffirm the legitimacy of our constitutional order and the truth,” said Phungula.

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