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The United States has been a long time ally of South Africa but has the relationship suffered following the events of the last few weeks?
Kate Fisher reports from Washington.
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When then US President Obama visited South Africa in 2013, he said relations between the two countries were "extraordinarily strong". But many in Washington no longer see South Africa as the reliable heavyweight partner they once did.
SOT:John Tomaszewski, Africa Director, International Republican Institute:
"People look to south Africa to be the beacon, to be the strong anchor for democratic development in Africa and when you have such things going on like ignoring court orders, going against the democratic process, really not being inclusive - these are things which are not representative of what we know as south Africa and of course that has been of concern to the US. "
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Jacob Zuma was welcomed back to the US by Barack Obama for the inaugural African leaders summit in 2014 but President Trump does not appear to have the same passion for the continent as his predecessor.
SOT: John Campbell, Senior fellow for Africa policy studies at the Council on Foreign Relations:
"The current administration from my perspective shows remarkably little interest in Africa. For example, there is still no American ambassador in Pretoria - that's been now for almost a year and a half. There is no assistant secretary of state for South Africa. So yes I'm concerned."
PTC: Kate Fisher, Washington
So a change in leadership in South Africa may improve ties with the United States, but will President Trump care?
Kate Fisher, Washington