During a recent meeting at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump challenged South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with allegations concerning mass killings and land seizures from white individuals. This moment echoed Trump’s earlier confrontational approach with Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky.
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South Africa firmly denies any assertion that crimes disproportionately target white citizens. While the nation does struggle with high murder rates, these predominantly affect the black community.
President Ramaphosa arrived in Washington intending to discuss trade and essential minerals. The meeting began on a positive note, with casual exchanges about golf between the two leaders. Notably, renowned South African golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen were part of Ramaphosa’s delegation.
However, the atmosphere shifted dramatically when Trump presented a video along with printed articles. These were intended to substantiate his dubious claims of persecution against white South Africans. “People are fleeing South Africa for their own safety. Their land is being confiscated, and in many cases, they’re being killed,” Trump asserted during the meeting.
South Africa has a complex history, having experienced severe discrimination against its black population during colonialism and apartheid. Since transitioning to a multi-party democracy in 1994 under the leadership of Nelson Mandela, President Ramaphosa has expressed strong disapproval of Trump’s claims.
A newly enacted land reform law seeks to rectify the injustices of apartheid by permitting expropriation without compensation for public interests, such as reviving unproductive land. Importantly, no such expropriations have occurred, and any legal action can be challenged in court.
The video Trump showcased included white crosses that he claimed represented the graves of thousands of deceased white individuals and featured incendiary speeches from opposition leaders. The U.S. President suggested that one of these leaders, Julius Malema, should be arrested.
As the video played, President Ramaphosa remained largely expressionless, occasionally turning to view the content. He mentioned that he had not seen the footage before and expressed a desire to identify its location.
Trump further provided printed articles he claimed documented fatalities among white South Africans, exclaiming “death, death” as he flicked through them. In response, Ramaphosa acknowledged the presence of crime in South Africa but clarified that the majority of victims were black individuals. Trump interjected, asserting, “The farmers are not black.”
Undeterred, Ramaphosa responded, “These are concerns we are willing to talk to you about.” Throughout the exchange, the South African leader remained composed and diplomatic.
In the past months, Trump has criticized South Africa’s land reform law and its genocide case against Israel, even canceling aid, expelling the South African ambassador, and offering refuge to white Afrikaners based on what Pretoria describes as unfounded claims.
South Africa is the second-largest trading partner for the U.S. after China. Nonetheless, the country faces a 30% tariff under Trump’s currently suspended “Liberation Day” policy, prompting Ramaphosa to seek dialogue on trade deals and business ventures.
Later in the meeting, prominent South African business figure Johann Rupert, who was part of Ramaphosa’s delegation, defended the South African position. He remarked that crime is a pervasive issue affecting all communities and highlighted that many black individuals also suffer. Rupert pointed to Elon Musk, attending the meeting as an ally, and suggested that his Starlink telecommunications systems are desperately needed in every South African police station to better combat crime.
“In the face of adversity, addressing issues openly is vital for growth,” Rupert emphasized, reinforcing the need for unity in tackling challenges.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
