A Spectacular Reset of Relations Between South Africa and the US Is Possible

There are currently three Afrikaners in Washington who believe there is a unique opportunity for a spectacular reset of relations between South Africa and the United States (US). The full provisional document is attached herewith:

Let us Make Critical Minerals the Centerpiece of a New U.S.–South Africa Partnership Agreement

As Afrikaners responsible for a multi-million-dollar technology investment portfolio in the United States, we believe our unique vantage point offers valuable insight into the evolving dynamics between the United States and South Africa.

Over the past two months, Dr. Alistair Ruiters has played a pivotal role in positioning South Africa within striking distance of a landmark trade agreement. This progress presents a rare opportunity to reset bilateral relations—not just to finalize a trade deal, but to build on the momentum and pursue a bold and transformative Investment Accord that reflects the strategic ambitions of both nations.

Such a deal could serve as the cornerstone of a renewed partnership between the Trump Administration and Pretoria, anchored in mutual interests, shared democratic values, and long-term strategic cooperation.

When President Ramaphosa met President Trump on 21 May 2025, President Trump had only met seven other heads of state. The South African President spent a full morning and working lunch with the President Trump giving South Africa a head start in global trade negotiations.

At the outset, President Trump struck a personal tone, recalling his longstanding friendships with South Africans, including three Afrikaners present in the room. He stated clearly, “we can help, and we want to help.” Despite raising serious concerns about rural safety in South Africa and farm murders, he immediately tasked senior officials to lead the trade negotiations. The White House soon communicated its requirements for a deal- covering tariff and non-tariff barriers- both in writing to South African officials, and directly to visiting delegations such as the Afrikaner delegation led by Dr. Corne Mulder.

From there, the conversation quickly expanded beyond immediate trade concerns. The White House emphasized a rare opportunity to execute a spectacular reset, one that anchors the economic relationship between the two countries in the strategic reality of the moment: critical minerals.

We are of the view that South Africa has an opportunity to support the United States in building resilient supply chains for the technologies that will define the next 30 years—semiconductors, batteries, aerospace, and defense.

The U.S needs trusted partners who can deliver both critical minerals and processing at scale. As one of the most mineral-rich nations in Africa and with one of the continent’s most industrialized economies, South Africa has all the potential to be that partner.

Rebuilding Trust

We are of the opinion that South Africa may need to recalibrate aspects of its US policy. A reset in relations with Washington could begin by constructively addressing U.S. concerns regarding Pretoria’s positions on Israel and Taiwan. Domestically, prioritizing transparent investigations into farm murders would signal a commitment to the rule of law and human rights. On the investment front, South Africa could exempt U.S. investors from mandatory Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) requirements, instead encouraging adherence to a voluntary investment code.

Reviving and modernizing the Sullivan Principles, originally developed to guide U.S. corporate conduct during the apartheid era, could offer a credible framework for ethical and inclusive investment that allows for broad based upliftment of Black communities. Pairing this with a US. –South Africa Security Technology Partnership as advocated by Johann Rupert in the May White House meeting- would secure mines, refineries, ports, and logistics with best-in-class US platforms for surveillance, data analytics, and law enforcement support.

Collaboration should also extend to tackling global drug syndicates devastating communities in both countries, and to joint efforts against smuggling, illicit finance, and border corruption. Shared digital platforms for cargo monitoring can make trade corridors more secure, lower risk premiums, and unlock new investment.

Critical Minerals is the centerpiece of a spectacular new deal

At the heart of a new deal would be a pact on critical minerals. South Africa could open strategic access to exploration, mining, and especially refining of platinum group metals (PGMs), manganese, vanadium, rare earths, and titanium.

The U.S. could match this with long term offtake commitments, targeted reserve build programs at the Departments of Defense and Energy, and financing for processing capacity that goes beyond resource headlines, to actual throughput.

A Johannesburg-based Critical Minerals Exchange Hub, linked to U.S. commodity markets could price, hedge, and de risk flows. The strategic payoff would be immediate: the U.S. secures trusted supplies for EVs, aircraft, and advanced manufacturing, while South Africa positions itself as a global processing and trading hub—not just a mine pit at the end of another country’s value chain.

The Secure Saldanha Prosperity Corridor

We are advocating that the focal point of this mineral’s pact could be a secure prosperity corridor centered in Saldanha Bay. With direct access to the Atlantic Ocean and a potential link to the Lobito Corridor, connecting Zambia and Angola, Saldanha is well-positioned to become a strategic hub for trans-Atlantic trade and mineral processing. The construction of an LNG terminal would enable the import of U.S. liquefied natural gas, strengthening South Africa’s energy security. Combined with power from Koeberg and a proposed Small Modular Reactor build, the region could support energy-intensive industries such as data centers within the existing Special Economic Zone. This integrated infrastructure would position Saldanha as a U.S.-led investment gateway into Southern Africa.

Five Enabling Pillars

To reinforce this minerals-first strategy, five enabling pillars can accelerate and deepen investment:

1. ⁠U.S. LNG imports and private equity led coal refinancing can provide reliable megawatts for smelters and refineries. Energy stability translates directly into jobs while offering attractive returns for US investors.
2. Africa is the ripe for partaking in the crypto currency boom. With South Africa boasting a sophisticated financial services sector, the country is well placed to pioneer minerals-backed digital assets. Tokenized offtake contracts and traceability tools can reduce financing friction while giving regulators and manufacturers the transparency they demand.
3. A $20 billion investment commitment by South Africa’s Pension Investment Corporation (PIC) into U.S. agriculture could establish a two way skills pipeline for American and South African farmers focusing on AI and automation. Food security and rural development will reinforce social stability in remote communities.
4. US firms such as Oracle and Starlink can provide cloud infrastructure, telemedicine, and broadband to rural mining communities. Affordable healthcare and connectivity are productivity enablers and key to poverty reduction.
5. A U.S.–Africa–Middle East hub for mining technology supply chain traceability, and AI driven monitoring, will draw investment from US private equity firms and Gulf sovereign wealth funds. Optimizing recovery rates, cutting downtime, and delivering verifiable data would secure long-term offtake agreements.

Investment returns for both countries

A minerals first deal offers spectacular returns. For South Africa, it could lift GDP by $40 billion and create about 500,000 jobs across mining, processing, energy, logistics, and services. The fixed investment rate would rise from 15% to 25% enabling growth of 5% per year and halving unemployment over time. Such a transformation would stabilize South Africa and secure democracy.

For the US, direct gains from minerals, LNG exports, technology deployments, and agricultural investments could exceed $75 billion. Added to this is the strategic dividend of supply chain resilience and the geopolitical advantage of trusted sourcing. In a world of concentrated risks, resilience itself is an asset class.

Such outcomes would justify reducing South Africa’s general tariff rate to 10% and keep its privileges under AGOA.

Why this must happen now.

The U.S. is in a race to rebuild industrial capacity without importing strategic vulnerabilities. South Africa requires investment, reliable power, and expanded global market access to turn world-class geology into middle class prosperity.

A minerals centered pact solves both problems. It directs capital to processing infrastructure that matters, protects it with modern security tech, finances it with innovative tools, powers it with pragmatic energy, and staffs it with skilled workers supported by healthcare and connectivity.

A Call to Action

We believe that the Government for National Unity (GNU) and the South African private sector are faced with a unique opportunity. With an open door to the White House, this is the opportune time to secure a watershed deal with the Trump administration, one that will deliver prosperity for South Africans and Americans alike, and for generations to come.

After our recent visit and talks in Washington DC this week, we firmly believe that the Trump administration will support these proposals for a unique reset of US-SA relations.

CORNÉ MULDER
ANDRE PIENAAR
CHRIS OPPERMAN

Washington DC

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