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Tshidi Madia praised for 'mopping floor' with US reporter [video]
South African political reporter Tshidi Madia has been praised for challenging an American counterpart who questioned her on 'white genocide' and President Donald Trump's claim of 'persecution' of white farmers.
Her comments come a day after SA President Cyril Ramaphosa's Oval Office meeting with Trump.
Last year, Madia was lauded for her interview with Jacob Zuma, in which she addressed mistruths of his political campaign.
A day after Ramaphosa and Trump's tense meeting, particularly about 'white genocide' and 'persecuted farmers,' made global headlines, Tshidi Madia was invited to share her comments with News Nation.
The US media platform – which hails itself as 'unbiased,' – questioned Tshidi about what was happening in South Africa. On Balance presenter Leland Vittert particularly brought up SA's delegation to the White House, and Trump's display of imagery and information about the 'targeted killings'.
Tshidi kicked off by labelling Trump's 'misinformation' campaign – supported by Pretoria-born Elon Musk, as a 'gimmick'.
She said, 'The issue is about what is being pedalled about South Africa. The startling truth of crime in South Africa was actually answered by everyone there. Is it targeted toward a certain group, is it ethnic cleansing? That's the question, based on what has been said about South Africa. [But] that's not a fact.
'The issue is falsehood. White people are not being targeted. Crime is experienced by everybody, not just white people.
Vittert went on to question Tshidi Madia on whether white people were being targeted 'disproportionally', whether white farmers were 'abandoning' their land and businesses, and Julius Malema's singing of Kill The Boer.
Tshidi mentioned that of the 49 Afrikaner 'refugees' who arrived in the US, none were farmers. She also attempted to explain the context of the Apartheid struggle song.
Tshidi also clapped back at claims Elon Musk had claimed that 'racist laws' – ie, BEE – had prevented his business, Starlink, from operating in SA.
She responded: 'So we are forced to undermine our transformative laws? We must be ok with a South Africa, where the majority are denied their land, and deprived of access to economic transformation? We must be ok with South Africa being labelled the most unequal country in the world and not try and do anything about it?'
On the X platform, Tshidi Madia's interview quickly became a trending topic.
Fellow reporter Redi Tlhabi posted: 'You were EXCELLENT here! Really sizzling. Not just your arguments, but your delivery and demeanour. You read the room and outplayed the anchor on his home-ground'.
Here's what others had to say…
@owensonO2: 'Her name is Matshidiso Tshidi Madia. Give her her flowers. #SAinUSA'.
@JerryBru007: 'Classic and predictable from the US – well done Tshidi for not taking their bullsh*t!'
@PetiteEbonyGirl: 'Tshidi Madia mopped the floor with his face '.
On his X account, News Nation's Leland Vittert responded to commentary about his interview with Tshidi Madia.
He posted: 'I don't think I have ever been so eloquently insulted'.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 .
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