TJ Madsen is among the founding members of the New Herald Tribune and chairs the editorial board. He worked for national syndicated newspapers in Newark, Philadelphia, and Baltimore before moving to the midwest.
May 22 , 2025
CAPE TOWN — The South African government has officially green-lit the construction of Trump Tower Cape Town, marking the Trump Organization’s first major real estate venture in sub-Saharan Africa.
The announcement comes at a time of heightened tensions between Pretoria and Washington, following months of public disputes between U.S. President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over land reform, refugee policies, and allegations of racial discrimination.
Trump Tower Cape Town, set to rise on the city’s iconic Foreshore, will feature luxury residences, a five-star hotel, and a retail complex. The project is expected to create thousands of jobs and inject significant foreign investment into South Africa’s struggling economy, which currently faces an unemployment rate exceeding 30%.
While city officials and business leaders tout the development as a vote of confidence in South Africa’s future, critics warn that the Trump brand’s polarizing reputation could further inflame political divisions.
The approval comes just days after a dramatic Oval Office meeting in Washington, where President Trump confronted Ramaphosa with unsubstantiated claims of a “genocide” against white South Africans and played a video montage purporting to show violence against Afrikaner farmers. Trump has also granted refugee status to thousands of white South Africans, citing “race-based discrimination”—a claim South African officials and independent experts have repeatedly refuted.
Despite these disputes, Ramaphosa has emphasized South Africa’s openness to foreign investment and his desire to maintain strong economic ties with the U.S., one of the country’s largest trading partners. Analysts suggest that the Trump Tower approval is a pragmatic gesture aimed at reassuring international investors and stabilizing relations with Washington.
Supporters of the project, including members of the local business community, argue that Trump Tower Cape Town will boost tourism, create jobs, and reaffirm Cape Town’s status as a global city. “This is the kind of bold investment South Africa needs,” said a spokesperson for the city’s economic development office.
However, opposition parties and civil society groups have condemned the decision, calling it a “symbolic capitulation” to a foreign leader who has repeatedly criticized South Africa’s domestic policies. “The Trump brand represents division and misinformation,” said a statement from the Economic Freedom Fighters, a left-wing opposition party.
Construction on Trump Tower Cape Town is expected to begin later this year, with completion slated for 2028. As ground is broken on this landmark project, both supporters and critics will be watching closely to see whether the development delivers on its economic promises—or becomes another flashpoint in the ongoing saga between Pretoria and Washington.
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