PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa is ready to face US President Donald Trump.
This assurance was given by his spokesman, Vincent Magwenya, after the Mzansi leader landed in Washington D.C on Monday, 19 May.
He said Ramaphosa is prepared for the moment and "highly enthused".
The two presidents will have a sit-down on Wednesday, 21 May.
"We are looking forward to a successful meeting aimed at resetting the relationship between South Africa and the United States," said Magwenya.
He dispelled false allegations of persecution of any particular race in Mzansi.
Magwenya said there would be no need to spend any effort on something that's not there.
"We are going to focus on opportunities that will underpin this resetting of the relationship and ironing out whatever issues of concern."
However, Magwenya said though he didn't expect tomorrow's discussion to centre on the perception that white people are being persecuted in South Africa, it's an issue that needs to be engaged on.
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"That's an issue that needs to be addressed and it will be addressed. But the president is not planning to spend an inordinate amount of time on that issue. The focus is on resetting the relationship and refocussing towards a revised and more mutually beneficial trade relations."
Magwenya highlighted that South Africa would focus on trade relations and hopes for an extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
However, the decision lies with the Trump administration.
He said Mzansi had not received any directives indicating that US departments should avoid participating in the G20 Summit scheduled for November.
"We haven't received any formal communications. We have seen media reports citing unnamed sources. We can't respond to that. Secondly, up until now, the US has been fully engaged in the Toika and participating in all G20-related activities. Thirdly, the invitation to Trump remains open to join other heads of state."
He said he didn't expect that Trump invited Ramaphosa to treat him like he did to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Theuns Eloff of the Afrikaner Leadership Network observed that the meeting between Ramaphosa and Trump occurred at an opportune time.
He said the group leadership has never said there's white genocide or large-scale expropriation of land in the country.
Ramaphosa is accompanied by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Trade, Industry Competition Minister Parks Tau, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and Special Envoy to the United States of America, Mcebisi Jonas.
