How Cyril walked into Donald’s bear trap

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“That went very badly for South Africa.” That is how US intelligence analyst, retired Colonel Chris Wyatt rates the showdown in the Oval Office between Presidents Donald Trump and Cyril Ramaphosa. On the issue of farm murders, Wyatt describes how Trump “lets Ramaphosa step into the bear trap. He opened it up. He left it there and Ramaphosa walked right into it…” Wyatt says the meeting was not a good look for either the African National Congress (ANC) or the Democratic Alliance (DA) whose leader John Steenhuisen was there in his capacity as Minister of Agriculture in the Government of National Unity (GNU). “I don't know if he's turned in his DA membership card for an ANC card yet, but maybe he should consider it. I mean, honestly, this really irritated a lot of DA voters very seriously.” As for billionaire Johann Rupert stating that he often doesn't lock his door at night, Wyatt charges: “That was so disingenuous and dishonest that it's heartbreaking. Johann Rupert, you know, he spoke for himself, not for South Africans in my view. And a lot of people think he sold South Africans down the river - and I'd have a hard time disagreeing with that assessment.” However, Wyatt praises golfer Ernie Els Ernie as “a patriot” who “stood up for South Africans”, while golfer Retief Goosen, who still has family living on a farm, walked a more “careful line, but he didn't shy away from the truth”. Overall, Wyatt says: "What we saw from the South African delegation is an attempt to politic…Trump wasn't politicking.”
22 May 2025 5AM English South Africa Investing · Business News

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