Latest news with #Afrikaners'
21-05-2025
- Politics
Is there a white genocide in South Africa? Examining Trump's Oval Office claim
President Donald Trump claimed there is an ongoing "genocide" against white farmers in South Africa during a tense meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office on Wednesday. Ramaphosa, major political parties in South Africa and a South African judge, however, have denied the existence of a white genocide in the country. Elon Musk, a South African native and a top adviser to Trump, was present for Ramaphosa's visit to the White House. He has also previously voiced Trump's allegations that white South Africans are fleeing the country due to "violence and racist laws." In February 2025, a South African court ruled that claims of white genocide were unfounded, calling them "not real" and "clearly imagined." The ruling came after a wealthy benefactor in the country wanted to donate $2.1 million to the white supremacist group Boerelegioen, which was denied by the court. While claims of a white genocide have been disallowed by the court, it is true that there is a problem with farmers being murdered in South Africa. These murders are brutal, and the overall murder rate in South Africa is high, with 45 murders per 100,000 people, according to data collected in 2023, but there is no indication that these murders are race-driven. South African crime statistics do not differentiate between the races of victims, and there is no specific category for farm murders. During the Oval Office meeting with Trump, Ramaphosa said, "There is criminality in our country. People who do get killed, unfortunately, through criminal activity are not only white people, majority of them are Black people." South Africa's Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told ABC News there is 'no evidence' to support the claims of genocide and alleged that the United States' foreign intelligence would reiterate that. 'There is no evidence of what's being claimed here. The U.S. has very sophisticated intelligence gathering mechanism. I can tell you now, if your intelligence community were willing to come out and speak, they'll tell you that what is being propagated here is completely false,' Magwenya said. Amid Trump and Musk's continued claims of genocide, dozens of Afrikaner refugees arrived in the U.S. last week after having their applications fast-tracked under an executive order issued by Trump in February titled "Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa." The order contends the South African government passed a law allowing it to "seize ethnic minority Afrikaners' agricultural property without compensation" in a "shocking disregard of its citizens' rights." It instructs that the U.S. will not provide aid or assistance to the nation, and that the U.S. will "promote the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees." Trump has been criticized for prioritizing Afrikaners while moving to restrict immigration from elsewhere, including from Afghanistan, Venezuela and Haiti.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump to host South Africa's president amid tensions over US resettlement of white Afrikaners
President Donald Trump is hosting South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House on Wednesday amid tensions between the two nations over the U.S. resettlement of white South Africans. Trump and other top officials have claimed that a race-based "genocide" is unfolding against white farmers in the country. South African officials, including Ramaphosa, have vehemently pushed back, arguing that is not the case. "It's a genocide that's taking place," President Trump said last week. "Farmers are being killed. They happen to be white. But whether they are white or Black makes no difference to me. But white farmers are being brutally killed, and their land is being confiscated in South Africa." MORE: Trump administration defends white South African refugee program amid group's US arrival That same day, the first flight of Afrikaners arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport. Ramaphosa responded that the individuals who went to the U.S. "do not fit the definition of a refugee" -- someone who is leaving their country out of fear of persecution due to race, religion, political opinion or nationality. "And I had a conversation with President Trump on the phone, and I -- he asked, he said, 'What's happening down there?'" Ramaphosa said. "And I said, 'President, what you've been told by those people who are opposed to transformation back home in South Africa is not true.'" The South African government, in a statement last week, said its police statistics on farm-related crimes "do not support allegations of violent crime targeted at farmers generally or any particular race." The dozens of Afrikaners who arrived in the U.S. last week had their applications fast-tracked under an executive order issued by Trump in February titled, "Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa." The order contends the South African government passed a law allowing it to "seize ethnic minority Afrikaners' agricultural property without compensation" in a "shocking disregard of its' citizen rights." It instructs that the U.S. will not provide aid or assistance to the nation, and that the U.S. "promote the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees." The law passed by South Africa cited by the administration aims to address land injustices established during apartheid. It states land can be expropriated in the public interest and in most cases must be subject to compensation, the amount of which must have been agreed to by the owners or approved by court. Experts say the law is comparable to similar legislation around the world regarding eminent domain. In addition to Trump's executive order, his administration expelled South Africa's Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool from the U.S. earlier this year. MORE: Trump administration faces criticism for prioritizing white South African refugees Trump has been scrutinized for prioritizing Afrikaners while moving to restrict immigration from elsehwere, including from Afghanistan, Venezuela and Haiti. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked to defend the administration's position while testifying before a Senate panel on Tuesday. "I think those 49 people that came strongly felt they were persecuted, and they passed every sort of check mark that needed to be checked off," Rubio said. "The president identified it as a problem and wanted to use it as an example." Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia said he believed the claim there is persecution of Afrikaner farmers was "completely specious" and noted the U.S. hadn't let in Black South Africans during apartheid. "I think that the United States has a right to allow into this country and prioritize the allowance of who they want to allow it come in," Rubio responded. Elon Musk, a South African native and a top adviser to the president during his second term, has also been vocal about the plight of South African landowners, amplifying claims of "white genocide." Ramaphosa on Tuesday projected optimism about the upcoming talks with Trump. "We're always ready and we hope to have really good discussions with President Trump and his fellow government colleagues. Looking forward to a really good and positive meeting, and we're looking forward to a really good outcome for our country, for our people, for the jobs in our country and good trade relations," Ramaphosa told reporters as he arrived at the South African Embassy in Washington. He said trade is the "the most important, that is what has brought us here" and that they want to strengthen economic ties between the two nations in a video posted to X. Ramaphosa also said he and Trump will discuss Israel as well as Russia and Ukraine. Ramaphosa didn't mention the United States' prioritization of the resettlement of white South African refugees in the videos posted to social media, though he vowed to protect South Africa's sovereignty. "We will always do what is best for South Africans," he said. ABC News' Shannon Kingston contributed to this report. Trump to host South Africa's president amid tensions over US resettlement of white Afrikaners originally appeared on
21-05-2025
- Politics
Trump to host South Africa's president amid tensions over US resettlement of white Afrikaners
President Donald Trump is hosting South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House on Wednesday amid tensions between the two nations over the U.S. resettlement of white South Africans. Trump and other top officials have claimed that a race-based "genocide" is unfolding against white farmers in the country. South African officials, including Ramaphosa, have vehemently pushed back, arguing that is not the case. "It's a genocide that's taking place," President Trump said last week. "Farmers are being killed. They happen to be white. But whether they are white or Black makes no difference to me. But white farmers are being brutally killed, and their land is being confiscated in South Africa." That same day, the first flight of Afrikaners arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport. Ramaphosa responded that the individuals who went to the U.S. "do not fit the definition of a refugee" -- someone who is leaving their country out of fear of persecution due to race, religion, political opinion or nationality. "And I had a conversation with President Trump on the phone, and I -- he asked, he said, 'What's happening down there?'" Ramaphosa said. "And I said, 'President, what you've been told by those people who are opposed to transformation back home in South Africa is not true.'" The South African government, in a statement last week, said its police statistics on farm-related crimes "do not support allegations of violent crime targeted at farmers generally or any particular race." The dozens of Afrikaners who arrived in the U.S. last week had their applications fast-tracked under an executive order issued by Trump in February titled, "Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa." The order contends the South African government passed a law allowing it to "seize ethnic minority Afrikaners' agricultural property without compensation" in a "shocking disregard of its' citizen rights." It instructs that the U.S. will not provide aid or assistance to the nation, and that the U.S. "promote the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees." The law passed by South Africa cited by the administration aims to address land injustices established during apartheid. It states land can be expropriated in the public interest and in most cases must be subject to compensation, the amount of which must have been agreed to by the owners or approved by court. Experts say the law is comparable to similar legislation around the world regarding eminent domain. In addition to Trump's executive order, his administration expelled South Africa's Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool from the U.S. earlier this year. Trump has been scrutinized for prioritizing Afrikaners while moving to restrict immigration from elsehwere, including from Afghanistan, Venezuela and Haiti. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked to defend the administration's position while testifying before a Senate panel on Tuesday. "I think those 49 people that came strongly felt they were persecuted, and they passed every sort of check mark that needed to be checked off," Rubio said. "The president identified it as a problem and wanted to use it as an example." Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia said he believed the claim there is persecution of Afrikaner farmers was "completely specious" and noted the U.S. hadn't let in Black South Africans during apartheid. "I think that the United States has a right to allow into this country and prioritize the allowance of who they want to allow it come in," Rubio responded. Elon Musk, a South African native and a top adviser to the president during his second term, has also been vocal about the plight of South African landowners, amplifying claims of "white genocide." Ramaphosa on Tuesday projected optimism about the upcoming talks with Trump. "We're always ready and we hope to have really good discussions with President Trump and his fellow government colleagues. Looking forward to a really good and positive meeting, and we're looking forward to a really good outcome for our country, for our people, for the jobs in our country and good trade relations," Ramaphosa told reporters as he arrived at the South African Embassy in Washington. He said trade is the "the most important, that is what has brought us here" and that they want to strengthen economic ties between the two nations in a video posted to X. Ramaphosa also said he and Trump will discuss Israel as well as Russia and Ukraine. Ramaphosa didn't mention the United States' prioritization of the resettlement of white South African refugees in the videos posted to social media, though he vowed to protect South Africa's sovereignty. "We will always do what is best for South Africans," he said.
IOL News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Afrikaners not responsible for misinforming Donald Trump, says Afrikaner Leadership Network
The Afrikaner Leadership Network says Afrikaners in South Africa cannot be blamed for misinforming United States President Donald Trump about the situation prevailing in Africa's economic powerhouse. The meeting aims to reset strained relations between the two countries and secure a favorable trade deal. Ramaphosa and Steenhuisen, who is also the DA leader, are joined by Minister of Trade and Industry Parks Tau, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni and International Relations and Minister Ronald Lamola. New special envoy to the US, Mcebisi Jonas is also part of the team. In an interview with broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, the Afrikaner Leadership Network's Theuns Eloff said it is wrong for anyone to blame Afrikaners for misinforming Trump. Eloff added that the misinformation narrative is overstated, adding that he believes Trump knows what is happening in South Africa. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. "Let me speak about the American administration and separate them from Mr Trump himself. Mr Trump may believe things that he has been told by we don't know who, not by any Afrikaners' organisations of this country. As the Afrikaner Leadership Network, when we met with the ANC, we said we had never said there is white genocide and we had never said there is large scale expropriation of white or Afrikaner farms. So he got it somewhere," said Eloff. 'This thing of misinformation is bandied about. If I were in the American administration and I had to advise the president, I would ask the embassy in South Africa and probably the CIA who can read everything that is being said on South African media and South African social media.
TimesLIVE
19-05-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
‘It's a waste of time': Malema criticises Ramaphosa's US visit
EFF leader Julius Malema has criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to the US, citing the country's budget crisis. Ramaphosa will visit the US from Monday to Thursday to meet US President Donald Trump to discuss bilateral, regional, and global issues, aiming to reset the strategic relationship between the two countries. Addressing members of the media at Nkululekweni Royal Residence after meeting AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo on Sunday, Malema said Ramaphosa's timing is off, given the country's struggles with the budget presentation. 'Once the budget comes for the third time, it means it's a crisis,' Malema said. 'You cannot leave your country in a crisis and go to America where you'll be ill-treated.' He said the visit is a 'waste of time' and Ramaphosa might be forced to compromise on South African policies to appease Trump. 'It's a waste of time. If he wants them to start treating him differently and is going to beg them to attend the G20, he is going have to compromise some of the fundamental policies of this country, which we are not prepared [to accept].' Malema also addressed the recent departure of 49 Afrikaners to the US, saying they are not being persecuted in SA. 'We are not killing white people, we are demanding our land. We are having a robust debate on land in SA, and that must never be used to silence us by America.' He questioned the validity of the Afrikaners' claims, suggesting they are not farmers and may have staged their departure for media attention. 'If the people are farmers, it means there are farms available. Why are we not expropriating them because they've abandoned them?'
