South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to meet with President Donald Trump on Wednesday, bringing along renowned golfer Ernie Els and fellow champion Retief Goosen. The meeting aims to engage Trump, potentially furthering ties between the two nations.
Els, often referred to as “The Big Easy,” was one of the top golfers of his era, closely competing with Tiger Woods. Goosen, also a former champion, excelled on the PGA Tour about two decades ago.
This visit is seen as a step to improve relations, especially given Ramaphosa’s friendship with Trump. In fact, golf legend Gary Player, another South African, is celebrating his 90th birthday this year and is still active in the sport.
In addition to the golfers, businessman Johann Rupert is part of the delegation. It’s believed Rupert played a role in organizing this meeting amid strained relations between the U.S. and South Africa.
Interestingly, there’s a significant absence of a concrete proposal from South Africa. Ramaphosa and former opposition leader John Steenhuisen have pointed out the need to address the Democratic Alliance Party’s concerns regarding allegations of “genocide” linked to the current South African government.
Ramaphosa has expressed a desire to establish a trade deal with Trump. However, no specific proposals have been put forth, and previous key issues outlined by Trump earlier this year remain unaddressed.
