Renergen Ltd., a South African gas explorer, said discussions on a merger with a Washington-based firm predated Donald Trump’s second term and were independent of South Africa’s efforts to smooth over its fractious relations with the US.

Trump strongly criticized Ramaphosa’s governing of South Africa, claiming there has been a “genocide” of white farmers.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is hosting South African President Cyril Ramaphosa for White House talks Wednesday at a moment when relations between the two countries are at a nadir, with Trump laying into South African officials on widely rejected charges of allowing a “genocide” against minority white farmers.