Donald Trump's first administration was chaotic, vindictive and corrupt. His interest in Africa was negligible, which allowed the professionals to carry on. To call him an unreliable partner is an understatement.

Listen to this article 7 min Listen to this article 7 min As South Africans ponder how to deal with another Trump Administration in Washington, President Cyril Ramaphosa has already taken the initiative.

At the conclusion of the G20 summit in Brazil he announced he has invited America's president-elect to come here for a state visit, noting: "Trump is going to be part of the troika in the form of the USA, South Africa and Brazil... We are joined at the hip as we prepare for the South African G20 summit, and they prepare for the US in 2026."

But is this realistic? Donald Trump's record is that he refuses to be "joined at the hip" with anyone or anything. His first administration, as I recall, was chaotic, vindictive and corrupt. His interest in Africa was negligible, which allowed the professionals to carry on.

To call him an unreliable partner is, to this observer, an understatement. I wouldn't even bet on his attendance at next year's G20 summit.

A more apt South African lens through which to view Trump is to compare him to Jacob Zuma, as many in the media have done. More analytically, American scholar Rita Barnard...