What Ramaphosa Should Have Said to Trump

How to win friends and influence Trump - while keeping your spine in place.

Originally Published on Catch23.io

Editor’s Note: The Wednesday meeting between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump could have been worse, but it could have gone far better. Christiaan van Huyssteen steps into the shoes of President Ramaphosa in the following hypothetical message, and shows what our president should have said to the world’s most powerful man.

Dear Mr President…

Thank you for inviting us to the White House today.

At the outset, I would like to acknowledge that this meeting is far more about what America could do for us than what we could do for America. I am keenly aware that South Africa has a smaller GDP than the Miami–Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area.

For us, this meeting could be historic; for you, it’s just another Wednesday. We understand that South Africa holds geopolitical significance to the U.S. primarily because of our physical size and geographical location—and for little other reason.

Let me begin by addressing a topic close to your heart: the violence against farmers. While we may differ on the use of the term “genocide,” the facts are clear—farmers are among the most targeted groups in South Africa, suffering a murder rate three times the national average.

We sometimes forget that our farmers employ a large number of people and, more importantly, feed the nation. They deserve to be protected and valued.

It would also be disingenuous not to acknowledge the correlation—supported by credible research—between public renditions of “Kill the Boer” and spikes in attacks on farmers.

Freedom of speech exists in South Africa, just as it does in the United States. However, today, for the first time, I want to unequivocally and unconditionally condemn the singing of this chant. Effective immediately, I am banning its use by any member of my party.

Another agricultural concern is the recently adopted Expropriation Without Compensation (EWC) bill. After 30 years of land redistribution, only around 20% of arable land remains in white hands. We do not believe this is wildly disproportionate, given that whites make up 8% of the population and that our white farmers are among the most skilled and sophisticated in the world.

I will repeal the EWC legislation and implement a policy that does the opposite: we will begin a massive program to issue title deeds to the mostly black inhabitants of millions of hectares of land currently held by the state and tribal authorities.

This may be unpopular with some traditional leaders, but it will give millions of people security of tenure, assets to leverage, and a path out of poverty. It will enable them to develop viable commercial farms and contribute meaningfully to the economy.

Mr President, the core purpose of our visit is to seek support for our economic development. My party has long been in denial about the importance of economic growth.

I now see clearly that one thing and one thing only—economic growth—can lift individuals, or millions of them, out of poverty. Not welfare, handouts, or foreign aid. And while this must begin with our own efforts, we will eventually require massive investment from rich nations like yours.

South Africa has all the ingredients to become a prosperous, middle-class nation. We have skills, resources, and potential. We will now focus all efforts on creating a stable economic and investment environment.

This means scrapping policies that hinder growth and make no sense in a market economy—empowerment laws, excessive taxes, trade barriers, and red tape among them.

Once this groundwork is laid, we would like the United States to be among the first to invest in a renewed South Africa—a country ready to compete and take its place on the global stage in the 21st century.

Mr President, all of this would be easier to achieve with your moral support and backing. While we are not a global power and cannot afford to back one horse over all others, we hope to build a special friendship with the United States—and with you.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and discussing our co-operation further.

Christiaan van Huyssteen is a co-founder of the Rational Standard. He occasionally writes about topics he is passionate about when time allows. His passions include freedom, peace and prosperity. This article was originally posted on his personal substack catch23.io.