Former South African President Zuma Criticizes Ramaphosa’s US Diplomatic Outreach

Former South African President Jacob Zuma sharply criticized President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent diplomatic delegation to Washington, D.C., aimed at repairing strained relations with the Trump administration and attracting investment. Zuma argued that South Africa should not rely on foreign powers, especially the United States, to solve its domestic challenges, emphasizing national sovereignty and the belief that South Africans understand their problems best. The trip by Ramaphosa and ministers sought to counter allegations from the Trump administration about human rights abuses and mismanagement, including contentious claims of white South African genocide, which the South African delegation dismissed. Zuma described the outreach as a sign of desperation and suggested it was out of touch with the South African people, insisting the country must fix its own issues. Meanwhile, American political figure Mark Burns, who recently visited South Africa, publicly rejected the white genocide narrative and highlighted the country's high crime rates affecting all communities. The diplomatic visit also included attempts to promote technology partnerships to address rising crime and economic challenges, amid ongoing domestic debates over equity laws and political slogans.