HE’S DA MAN

DEMOCRATIC Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen is on a mission to save South Africa’s fraying ties with America. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to have a showdown with US counterpart Donald Trump this week in Washington, D.C., with the relationship between the two nations at an all-time low. 

Since his return to the White House in January, Trump has stopped financial aid to SA, imposed various tariffs, accused Mzansi of aiding Hamas and persecuting Afrikaners. 

Trump supporters, including billionaire Pretoria-born advisor Elon Musk, claim that a "White Genocide" is taking place in South Africa, with Afrikaner farms being confiscated.

Tensions rose last week, when the US welcomed 54 Afrikaners as refugees, sparking a backlash in SA, the US and across the world. 

Now Ramaphosa has drukked op Steenhuisen se nommer to help smooth things over with Trump and the US.

Steenhuisen has been a vocal critic of the ANC as DA leader. But now as Minister of Agriculture in the Government of National Unity, he is ready to play his part. 

Key issues expected to dominate the bilateral discussions include SA-US trade relations, especially the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and the broader context of domestic race and immigration policies.

In a statement, Steenhuisen said his priority list will be securing trade relations between the US and SA, particularly in agriculture, to protect jobs, grow the economy, and expand employment opportunities.

He says: “South Africa's relationship with the US 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.

Steenhuisen emphasised that the relationship between the two nations needed to be resolved and strengthened.

He adds: “As a proud member of this GNU delegation, I will endeavour to ensure every effort is made to mend and improve relations between the US and SA.”

Concerns have been raised by some analysts that Ramaphosa's three-day visit would not go as planned and could even get contentious.

The false narrative put up by the Trump administration that Afrikaner farmers are being singled out is frustrating South African officials more and more.

Claims of a "white genocide" in South Africa are unsupported by reliable crime data or independent studies; international observers have extensively refuted these claims.