Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) leader Corné Mulder has claimed that President Cyril Ramaphosa was initially not interested in meeting him to discuss demands raised by the United States regarding South Africa’s relationship with Washington.
Mulder made the remarks while reflecting on his delegation’s visit to the United States in June 2025, where he and representatives from the Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI) and the National Employers’ Association of South Africa (NEASA) met senior US officials.
According to Mulder, the delegation had travelled to Washington to discuss tensions between South Africa and the United States and to argue against punitive measures targeting the country as a whole. He said the delegation was subsequently presented with several concerns that US officials wanted communicated to the South African government.
Mulder said the delegation was told that Washington wanted South Africa to address issues including the controversial “Kill the Boer” chant, farm attacks, land expropriation, Black Economic Empowerment requirements affecting US companies and South Africa’s foreign-policy relationship with countries such as Iran.
However, Mulder claimed that securing a meeting with Ramaphosa proved difficult after he returned to South Africa.
“When I came back, it wasn’t that easy to meet Ramaphosa,” Mulder said, according to Newsday. He alleged that the Presidency initially referred him to the Department of Trade and Industry before he insisted that he wanted to speak directly with the President. He also claimed he was subsequently referred to Luthuli House.
Mulder said he eventually met Ramaphosa and discussed the concerns raised by American officials, but maintained that the South African government did not take the action he believed Washington was seeking.
The FF Plus leader has continued to criticise the government’s handling of the dispute, arguing that ignoring Washington’s concerns could have consequences for South Africa’s diplomatic and economic relationship with the United States.
The South African government, however, has maintained that it is prepared to engage with Washington while defending the country’s sovereignty. Ramaphosa said on 21 September that South Africa remained willing to discuss bilateral challenges with the United States but would do so while expecting mutual respect.
The dispute has intensified following new US visa restrictions announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio targeting certain South Africans accused of racial discrimination. South Africa has rejected the allegations associated with the restrictions.
Mulder’s account therefore highlights a continuing disagreement over how Pretoria should respond to Washington’s demands, while the government maintains that engagement should take place without compromising South Africa’s sovereignty