South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to the White House has provoked mixed reactions in his country. While some sectors highlighted his serenity in the face of Donald Trump's attempt to back up with manipulated images the unfounded theory of a "white genocide" in South Africa, others questioned why he agreed to a meeting that many describe as a diplomatic ambush. The deployment of figures such as golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, along with tycoon Johann Rupert, drew criticism for its symbolism and lack of prior preparation, especially given the sensitivity of the racial issue in the country.
Although the South African government attempted to present the meeting as a breakthrough in bilateral relations, the content and staging of the meeting left doubts about its usefulness. The dissemination of false images - including from conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo - and Trump's comments, downplaying widespread crime in South Africa to focus exclusively on white farmers, reinforced perceptions of bias. On social media, many citizens ironised the moment, while political analysts praised Ramaphosa's self-restraint, although they did not hide their scepticism about the concrete outcomes of the meeting.
Source: theguardian.com