Billionaire Rob Hersov made bold claims about a recent phone call between US President Donald Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa.
In a conversation with BizNews, Hersov alleged that Trump gave Ramaphosa a stern warning ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
According to Hersov, Trump didn’t even bother with pleasantries. Hersov adds: “And basically, the message was to Cyril Ramaphosa, ‘Your time is coming, pal‘.”
‘Big trouble ahead’ for Ramaphosa
In the interview, Hersov suggested that the Trump administration is preparing to put South Africa (and specifically the ANC) under intense scrutiny in the coming months.
He says America will likely “wait until an ambassador is in place and the Under Secretary of State for Africa has been appointed.”
“And watch those appointments, because the focus of those two people, on behalf of Donald Trump and his government, is going to turn their spotlight onto the ANC and onto South Africa.”
Hersov further claimed that Ramaphosa left the phone call “scared as hell” and that key ANC figures like Gwede Mantashe were aware of what’s coming.
If what South African billionaire Rob Hersov is saying is true, then I do not blame Donald Trump—I blame President Cyril Ramaphosa for allowing that disrespect to take place.
— Hopewell Chin’ono (@daddyhope) January 29, 2025
If the head of state of a small country like Burkina Faso will not tolerate disrespect from any leader,… pic.twitter.com/Xm0sQtYAQw
While Hersov didn’t specify what exactly Trump’s administration plans to do, he warned that “big trouble” lies ahead for Ramaphosa and the ANC.
Should SA stop accepting US aid?
Journalist and documentary filmmaker Hopewell Chin’ono weighed in on Hersov’s remarks, shifting the blame from Trump to Ramaphosa for allowing such disrespect to happen in the first place.
Chin’ono argued that leaders of smaller nations, like Burkina Faso, would never tolerate such treatment.
“If what South African billionaire Rob Hersov is saying is true, then I do not blame Donald Trump. I blame President Cyril Ramaphosa for allowing that disrespect to take place.”
He believes that South Africa, as Africa’s largest economy, should stop accepting aid to “retain its respect.”
“SA does not need aid, it needs good, honest, ethical, and competent leadership! It is a wealthy country that should not be treated like a naughty child.”
He went further, pointing out that Africa’s biggest problem isn’t foreign interference but weak leadership that allows powerful nations to dictate terms.
What this means for SA
While neither Trump nor Ramaphosa have commented on Hersov’s claims, the allegations come at a tense moment for US-South Africa relations.
Trump has already threatened to cut off $440 million in annual US aid over South Africa’s land expropriation bill. Ramaphosa responded.
READ: Ramaphosa to Trump: Land bill is not a ‘confiscation instrument’
With the ANC facing a crucial election year and South Africa holding the G20 presidency, the idea that Trump is planning to put the spotlight on Ramaphosa adds yet another layer of uncertainty.
Whether Hersov’s warnings hold weight or not, one thing is clear: SA’s leadership is under international scrutiny, and how they navigate this could shape the country’s global standing.
Hopewell Chin’ono is a Zimbabwean journalist and filmmaker. He is known for his investigative reporting on corruption and governance issues in Zimbabwe. Chin’ono has faced multiple arrests for his outspoken stance and remains a vocal advocate for press freedom and accountability.
Rob Hersov is a South African-born entrepreneur and a “capitalist activist”. He comes from a wealthy background; his father, Basil Hersov, was a mining magnate.