'You did not stand up for white farmers': Steenhuisen under fire for comments during Ramaphosa, Trump White House briefing
Image: GCIS
Agriculture Minister and Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen is facing scrutiny for comments made during the highly-anticipated meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday.
Many took to social media following Steenhuisen's comments, accusing him of failing to protect farmers and calling him a 'flip flop'
Facing a barrage of questions and unfounded claims about a white genocide in South Africa, "supported" by a montage of videos of Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema talking about land expropriation and singing "Kill the Boer", Ramaphosa turned to Steenhuisen in the hopes that he could help clarify the issue to Trump.
Steenhuisen conceded that SA had a rural safety problem that needed to be addressed; however, the majority of SA's commercial and smallholding farmers "really" did want to stay in SA.
Steenhuisen said, along with his colleagues in the Police and Justice clusters, he wants to start prioritising farm attacks and stock theft.
"It affects all farmers in SA, particularly stock theft that has a disproportionate effect on black farmers," he said.
Taking to social media following the briefing, Steenhuisen explained that the DA joined the Government of National Unity (GNU) to protect SA from violent anti-constitutionalists.
"Along with the security cluster and our US partners, my department is committed to winning the fight against farm murders," he said.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
During my engagement with President Trump in the Oval Office, I outlined that the DA joined the GNU to protect SA from violent anti-constitutionalists. Along with the security cluster and our US partners, my department is committed to winning the fight against farm murders. 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/UfrW2oHTRi — John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) May 21, 2025
However, there are those who believed Steenhuisen failed to protect farmers in SA.
Taking to social media, some believed Steenhuisen could have taken a leaf from business mogul Johann Rupert's book.
When given the opportunity to speak, Rupert appealed to Trump for assistance in addressing South Africa's rising crime rate, saying the issue of violent crime extends beyond white Afrikaner farmers and affects citizens across the country.
Rupert further raised the issue of violence on the Cape Flats.
Reaction
@RickBothma: "You did not stand up for white farmers."
@Freshermoon2: "Don't come back"
@NativeSettler1: "You lost alot of voters today"
@aynrandfontein: "You allowed the ANC to use you as a prop."
@danielle_v73623: "You have ruined the legacy of Zille and the DA. You will never be supported again. You're a traitor and a coward."
I wish DA can fire you. Johan exposed you and your Party — NL_Sesh🇿🇦 (@Sesh_NL) May 21, 2025
No one believes you anymore. I am very disappointed that I voted DA. I will never make that mistake again. Where is your backbone? — Michael Rossi (@Michael_silvfx) May 21, 2025
Ntate Rupert dealt with that @JohnSteffensen who had the platform to deny the genocide lies and instead tried to score cheap points for the @Our_DA . Never thought I would say this , but have so much new respect for Rupert. Not your spineless John! — Sir. TeeKay (@tokollom) May 21, 2025
seanne.rall@iol.co.za
IOL
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
13 minutes ago
- The Citizen
National Dialogue: Ramaphosa urges citizens to embrace differing views
This comes after severe criticism that the first national convention was poorly planned. President Cyril Ramaphosa is urging South Africans to embrace differing views in the National Dialogue, describing disagreements as 'vital for progress'. This comes after severe criticism that the first national convention held at Unisa in Pretoria last week was poorly planned, nothing but a talk shop and did not include all race groups, especially white people. Boycott With so many top leaders and prominent South Africans boycotting the National Dialogue, an expert told The Citizen it risks losing credibility if it continues in its current form. Political economy analyst Daniel Silke said instead of forging ahead, President Cyril Ramaphosa should review or reconstitute the National Dialogue to bring everybody on board. ALSO READ: National Dialogue must be place for 'women to raise their voices', Ramaphosa says Disagreements Writing in his weekly newsletter on Monday, Ramaphosa said: 'Disagreeing is part of engaging in a meaningful and robust dialogue. It is through the expression of different views that we will be able to give full legitimacy and credence to the dialogue. 'We should, therefore, make a determined effort to air our differences with a view to finding agreement on the actions we need to take together to build a better society, in which every person has an equal opportunity to prosper,' Ramaphosa said. 'No exclusions' He added that there should be 'no person, no part of society and no institution – either public or private – that is excluded from the conversation'. 'The dialogue should break down the barriers between 'insiders' and 'outsiders' and challenge notions of 'us' and 'them'. 'At the same time, we should not seek a form of unity that is based only on sentiment, but a unity that is forged through constructive and honest discussion on the difficult questions our country faces – and an agreed programme of action,' Ramaphosa said. 'Important voices' He said there was a strong emphasis at the convention on inclusion and participation, with some delegates expressing concern that important voices were missing from the gathering. 'There was a firm view that special efforts should be made to reach and include groups and people who were often left out or marginalised.' Ramaphosa said a steering committee representative of civil society groups will be set by the end of the month to lead the rest of the dialogue's process in conjunction with the Eminent Persons Group he announced in July tasked with championing the dialogue and providing advice. The president said the Eminent Persons Group will also advise the head of state as the convenor of the National Dialogue to ensure that it is 'inclusive and credible'. ALSO READ: The credibility of the National Dialogue is at stake
IOL News
43 minutes ago
- IOL News
'Shut the Israeli Embassy'
Journalists and activists during the 96 weekly protest in support of Palestine at St. George's Cathedral, in Cape Town, on Wednesday, August 13. Image: Fouzia Van Der Fort On November 21, 2023, our elected representatives in the Parliament of South Africa voted by 248 to 91 (73% in favour), to suspend diplomatic ties with Israel and shut their embassy in Pretoria. On December 29, 2023, almost 20 months ago, the government of South Africa brought a case of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Since then the genocidal actions of the Israeli regime have become more obvious and brutal. Most shocking is the slaughter by Israeli forces of tens of thousands of children. For the last months, Israel has imposed extreme hunger on the approximately two million residents of Gaza. Hundreds are starving to death as we write this and Israeli bullets and bombs continue to kill dozens more every day. Despite all of this, our government is still maintaining diplomatic relations with Israel and hosting an embassy and staff who have full diplomatic privileges. It is now far beyond time for the Executive arm of the government of South Africa to act on the decision of Parliament and cut all diplomatic ties with Israel. The embassy must be closed and Israeli diplomats expelled. It is hard to comprehend how having correctly accused Israel of genocide, our government continues to maintain relations with that genocidal is worth noting a few of the other atrocities committed by Israel over the last 22 months. Israel has killed more United Nations workers in Gaza than have been killed in any other conflict in the history of the organisation. More journalists have been killed in Gaza than in both 'world' wars including five on August 10 in a tent inside Al-Shifa Medical complex. The war crimes committed by Israel include destroying hospitals, clinics, schools and universities. Health workers have been killed including doctors, nurses, and RedCross/Crescent workers who in almost all previous conflicts have been allowed safe passage to provide life-saving support to injured people from all sides. While imposing hunger on Palestinians in Gaza, Israel has also allowed in article of aid that has lured hungry Palestinians into shooting allies where hundreds have been murdered while simply trying to get food in order to stay alive. In the last week over 5,500 people have signed a petition calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Minister of International Relations and Cooperations, Ronald Lamola to 'shut down the embassy of genocidal Israel'. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading This is not a radical demand, but it is a call for an obvious action that should be taken and that is entirely within the control of the government to take. The Executive arm of government needs to take seriously the decisions of the democratically elected Parliament. Much more should also be done, such as charging South African citizens and permanent residents who have served in the Israeli Defence Forces as this goes against international laws our democratic state have signed and ratified. Additionally, there is an urgent need to stop the sale of coal from South Africa to Israel. Coal that is directly helping fuel the genocide. Private companies should be de-registered in our country if their actions cause harm. But our focus here is on the importance of cutting state to state diplomatic ties. Maintaining diplomatic relations exposes the hypocrisy of the South African government in taking Israel to court but still associating with them. As citizens ofSouth Africa, we are ashamed that our government continues to host representatives of the Israeli regime in South Africa. We know how important the isolation of the apartheid regime in South Africa was in helping finally bring about democracy in 1994. Israel has, through its indescribably brutal actions against Palestinians, made itself a pariah state and it must be treated as such. Shutting the embassy will be an important symbolic action, it will show the government of South Africa to be living its values, and it will also make it that bit harder for supporters of Israel in South Africa to maintain economic and other links. There can be no more business as usual and no normal relations with a state that is committing genocide, multiple war crimes, slaughtering children(deliberately with bombs and targeted sniper fire), bombing neighbouring countries, raping and abusing thousands of Palestinian political hostages who are held with no charges, and enforcing a racist system of apartheid (as determined by the ICJ) in the illegally occupied Palestinian territories. * Zukiswa Wanner is author of the Palestinian long-form essay 'Vignettes of a People in an Apartheid State'. Marc Wegerif is an academic at the University of Pretoria and member of Palestine Solidarity Committee. Both are South African citizens. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.
IOL News
43 minutes ago
- IOL News
Parks Tau leads South African delegation to boost trade with India
Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister, Parks Tau. Image: GCIS Trade, Industry, and Competition minister, Parks Tau, is set to lead a delegation to Mumbai and Delhi to strengthen trade relations and deepen economic ties between South Africa and India, while also exploring new markets. The visit, from August 25 to 29, is at the invitation of Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal. Tau is also scheduled to attend and speak at the 20th India-Africa Conclave. South Africa's economy is under severe pressure due to a 30% US tariff on its exports and existing domestic protectionism, stifling competition and this dual challenge puts jobs, economic growth, and investment at risk. Tau and the Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen recently indicated that they are exploring alternative trade partners to mitigate these impacts. According to the High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to India, Professor Anil Sooklal, the relationship with India is not so much about alternatives but also to diversify, so the nation does not rely on one or two trade partners. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to India, Professor Anil Sooklal says Indian business is keen on investing in South Africa. Image: Tumi Pakkies/ Independent Newspapers He said this diversification was crucial, especially in light of the recent tariff hikes imposed by the US on South African exports. Sooklal emphasised that "India can ease the US tariff saga" and that Indian businesses are keen on investing in South Africa, seeing it as an entry point to sub-Saharan Africa. India is currently South Africa's fourth-largest trading partner and fourth-largest consumer market. With India expected to become the second-largest consumer market by 2030, the potential for trade growth between the two countries is significant. Sooklal noted that "trade with India can only grow," and the visit would provide an opportunity for South African businesses to tap into the Indian economy. During the visit, Tau and his delegation will focus on several key sectors, including exploring opportunities for collaboration and investment in the mining and minerals sector while strengthening ties in manufacturing, particularly in areas like automotive and pharmaceuticals. Sooklal said the minister would also identify opportunities for cooperation in the energy sector, enhancing trade and investment in agriculture, promoting tourism between South Africa and India and collaborating on pharmaceutical production and trade. Tau will participate in the 20th edition of the India-Africa Conclave, where he will be a speaker at the opening plenary. The conclave provides a platform for Africa and India to engage on trade and economic issues, with over 30 countries confirmed to attend. Sooklal said the conclave is a well-established forum that will facilitate interaction between South African and Indian businesses. During the visit, Tau will also hold bilateral meetings with Indian businesses to further strengthen trade relations between the two countries. 'These meetings will provide opportunities for South African companies to explore new markets and partnerships in India… The visit is expected to yield significant economic benefits for South Africa. 'Indian businesses have already invested heavily in South Africa, with companies like Vedanta, Zinc International and Pepsico operating in the country. Pepsico South Africa now has five factories, while Mahindra South Africa recently inaugurated a new vehicle assembly facility in KwaZulu-Natal…Vedanta employs over 6000 people,' Sooklal said. "With India poised to become an increasingly important player in the global economy, this visit is timely and crucial for South Africa's economic growth and development," said Sooklal. DTIC spokesperson Kaamil Alli did not respond to questions as to who Tau would be taking to India as part of his delegation. Cape Times
