East Coasters weigh in on Ramaphosa’s Trump meeting
South Africa has an important meeting in Washington on Wednesday afternoon.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will be hosted by his US counterpart, Donald Trump, at the White House.
Top of the agenda for Ramaphosa and the four ministers in his delegation will be rescuing diplomatic relations, clarifying the country's foreign policy positions - and hopefully securing a trade deal.
There were surprise additions to South Africa's delegation overnight, with billionaire businessman Johann Rupert and South African golfing legends Ernie Els and Retief Goosen now also accompanying the president.
One Pietermaritzburg resident believes it's a master stroke.
" As a seasoned diplomat in many regards, he probably knows that he's not entering this meeting from a position of power and bringing along the likes of Johan Rupert and Ernie Els shows that he's playing Trump's personality over his politics. It's a monumental task, and I wouldn't want to be in the President's shoes."
READ: Steenhuisen: Land expropriation not raised in US talks
Another woman hopes Ramaphosa will address the genocide claims.
" There are way more important issues that need to be dealt with in South Africa, and that white people aren't the only people who have struggles. If Trump wants to help our country, like he says he does, he should address more important issues such as violence or rape."
A Durban doctor wants to see an agreement reached on funding for South Africa's HIV/AIDS programmes.
" I know South Africa has declared that they do have the capacity to continue going, but we know reality on the ground is that it's affected a lot of people - the USAID that America was funding."
The U.S president will be joined by his South African-born adviser Elon Musk at the meeting.
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