Washington, D.C. – On May 21, 2025, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his delegation met with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, a meeting that has ignited controversy over racial dynamics in diplomatic negotiations. The gathering, captured in a widely shared image, showed a packed room with both leaders surrounded by their teams and a large media presence.
The meeting, which focused on U.S.-South Africa relations, saw Trump confront Ramaphosa over discredited claims of a “white genocide” in South Africa, according to the BBC. Ramaphosa rebutted these allegations, highlighting the presence of white South Africans in his delegation, including golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, and billionaire Johann Rupert, to counter the narrative.
However, the meeting drew sharp criticism on social media, particularly from South African user @Basoh_Mabaso on X. In a post on May 22, 2025, at 06:29 UTC, the user compared the scene to pre-1994 apartheid-era negotiations, specifically referencing the CODESA talks that marked South Africa’s transition to democracy. The post claimed that Black South African delegates, including Ministers Khumbuzodzo Ntshavheni and Ronald Lamola, appeared sidelined, “awkwardly smiling” while white South Africans like Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen and COSATU’s Zingiswa Losi engaged more prominently with their U.S. counterparts. The user suggested this mirrored historical racial imbalances in power discussions, a sentiment that resonated with some, as replies dubbed the event “Codesa 2025.”
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Others on X defended the Black delegates’ silence, citing diplomatic protocol. @Eunisko noted at 08:24 UTC that ministers like Lamola, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations, are typically expected to speak only when invited by the president, as was the case with Losi and Steenhuisen. Another user, @BaloyiAbi, pointed out at 07:11 UTC that even the U.S. Vice President remained silent, suggesting the dynamic was procedural rather than racial.
The meeting occurs against a backdrop of strained U.S.-South Africa relations, with tensions over South Africa’s foreign policy stances and Trump’s upcoming 30% tariffs on South African exports, set to resume in July 2025. Ramaphosa emphasized improving trade ties and expressed hope for future dialogue, including at the G20 conference in South Africa in November 2025. However, the event has reignited debates about representation and influence in international diplomacy, with some South Africans questioning the inclusivity of their delegation’s voice on the global stage.
