South Africans were floored after they noticed President Cyril Ramaphosa's African-coded reactions during his widely streamed meeting with Donald Trump.

For some South Africans, Cyril Ramaphosa's composure raised the question of what he achieved by subjecting himself to Trump's onslaught.

Mr Ramaphosa kept his cool. But the episode underlined Donald Trump’s warped views of South Africa—and how hard it will be to change them. The Trump administration has cut aid to Africa’s largest economy and seems set to cancel the preferential trade terms enjoyed by South Africa (and many other countries in the continent).