Addressing the media at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Thursday, Magwenya emphasised that restoring relations with Washington is a key priority for the President.

The diplomatic strain follows the US government’s decision to expel SA’s Ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool. Rasool was removed after he accused former US President Donald Trump of leading a global white supremacist movement.

Meanwhile, the US has yet to appoint a replacement for its former Ambassador to SA, Reuben Brigety, who resigned in January following Trump’s inauguration.

Magwenya stated that while the SA government will not send a delegation to Washington to explain its land policy, it remains committed to addressing misrepresentations of its stance.

"What we will do, as I have done now, is to continue correcting distortions where those distortions are being reported on an official level out of the US," he said.

He further reiterated Ramaphosa’s intention to engage with the Trump administration to smooth out differences.

"The President is leading an intensification of engagements with the Trump administration to ensure that we are able to engage at the right level and iron out whatever differences may exist. But yes, it is a concern that the state of the relationship is where it is, and it is a focus of the President to work towards improving the state of the relationship."

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--