Strengthening trade, job creation top of agenda when Ramaphosa meets Trump - Presidency

JOHANNESBURG - The office of the Presidency said that strengthening trade relations and creating job opportunities would be the main agenda when Cyril Ramaphosa meets with US President Donald Trump.

A date for the meeting between the two heads of state has not been pinned down yet however, Ramaphosa’s office has indicated it will take place in May.

The diplomatic relations between Pretoria and Washington are currently strained, with Trump making baseless accusations of genocide against white Afrikaners in South Africa.

On Monday, 49 white Afrikaners from South Africa arrived in America on an expedited refugee programme orchestrated by Trump.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said that Ramaphosa is expecting to have a productive meeting with his American counterpart.

"What we are doing is to put the country first and foremost and doing what is right for the country. That is where the president’s mind is at and we have to approach this challenge with a degree of optimism that we're going to get something out of it. It will be counterproductive for us to be filled with cynicism and negativity before we even commence the engagements."