The African National Congress (ANC) has expressed support for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s planned working visit to U.S. President Donald Trump, as the two nations navigate increasingly strained diplomatic relations.

The visit comes at a tense time, with the Trump administration imposing import tariffs, issuing executive orders affecting trade, and expelling South Africa’s ambassador to the U.S., Ebrahim Rasool. Additionally, a group of South Africans recently left the country after being granted refugee status in the U.S., further complicating bilateral ties.

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula emphasized the importance of Ramaphosa’s leadership in defending South Africa’s sovereignty against what he called “misinformation and distortions.”

“It is important that our president must lead the charge in defending his own country and his own people against distortions which are clearly blatant,” Mbalula stated.

The ANC also addressed South Africa’s soaring unemployment rate, which reached  in the first quarter of 2025, leaving over . Mbalula stressed that job creation remains the government’s top priority.

“We want jobs, and the rising figures of unemployment are a big challenge for our economy,” he said. “As the ANC, our biggest focus in the upcoming National Executive Committee meeting will be on the economy—how we grow it and address jobless growth.”

Mbalula reaffirmed the party’s support for a  aimed at tackling unemployment.

Meanwhile, Mbalula commended Ramaphosa for his intervention in reversing the apartheid-era decision to bar Duma Nokwe as an advocate he was also promoted to Silk status posthumously. The late advocate was among 49 freedom fighters whose remains were recently repatriated from Zambia and Zimbabwe.

“We welcome President Ramaphosa’s timely intervention to ensure this injustice is reversed,” Mbalula said. “This noble gesture allows us to lay Advocate To Manu, now posthumously awarded Silk status, to rest with dignity.”

The late former ANC Secretary-General Duma Nokwe and his wife, Vuyiswa Nokwe, will be buried on Saturday at Heroes’ Acre in West Park.

As Ramaphosa prepares for his critical U.S. engagement, the ANC remains hopeful that the visit will help mend relations while reinforcing South Africa’s economic and diplomatic interests.