Cyril Ramaphosa responds to Donald Trump’s attack
President Cyril Ramaphosa took a firm stance against external pressure during his State of the Nation Address (SONA), delivering a message of resilience and unity in response to criticism from US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Without directly naming Trump, Ramaphosa made it clear that South Africa would not be intimidated. His speech came after Trump threatened to cut US funding to the country over the Expropriation Act, claiming—without evidence—that South Africa was “confiscating land and treating certain classes of people very badly.”
Rubio reinforced this sentiment, announcing his boycott of the upcoming G20 Summit in Johannesburg.
Addressing the nation, Ramaphosa reflected on South Africa’s journey and its role in a shifting global landscape.
“We must chart this path in a world that is rapidly changing. It is a world of both interdependence and competition, of cooperation and conflict. It is a multipolar world in which new countries are emerging to play a greater role in global affairs,” he said.
He also condemned the rise of nationalism and protectionism, emphasizing that South Africa would remain steadfast.
“We will not be deterred. We are a resilient people. We will not be bullied. We will stand together as a united nation and we will speak with one voice in defence of our national interests, our sovereignty, and our constitutional democracy.”
The president reaffirmed the country’s commitment to justice, democracy, and equality, stating, “As South Africans, we stand for peace and justice, for equality and solidarity. We stand for non-racialism and democracy, for tolerance and compassion.”
While acknowledging economic challenges, he emphasized the urgent need to accelerate GDP growth and outlined plans for the next five years under the Government of National Unity (GNU).
This includes over R940 billion in infrastructure investment, with R375 billion allocated to state-owned companies.
