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CNN
21-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Fact check: Trump's false suggestion of a ‘genocide' against White farmers in South Africa
There is a lot of violent crime in South Africa. There is not a genocide against White farmers there. Claims of genocide can sometimes be difficult to adjudicate. This claim is easy. The facts show that the genocide President Donald Trump suggests might be happening is not happening – and that crime against White farmers in South Africa represents a tiny fraction of the country's overall crime. The most recent South African official data shows that the country had 19,696 murders from April 2024 through December 2024 – and that the victim in just 36 of these murders, about 0.2%, was linked to farms or smaller agricultural holdings. Further, only seven of the 36 victims were farmers. (South Africa has Black farmers, too; the official data is not broken down by race.) The other 29 victims included farm employees, who tend to be Black. Data from groups representing South African farmers also shows that farm killings number in the dozens per year, a minuscule percentage of the country's total. Under the United Nations definition, genocide requires acts, such as murder and serious bodily or mental harm, 'committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such.' There is no evidence that South Africa, whose agriculture minister is White, has made or overseen any such effort. The claim of a genocide against White South African farmers has been pushed for years by White nationalist groups. Trump, who has expedited the processing of White South Africans as refugees even while keeping all other US refugee resettlement suspended, raised the notion of a genocide last week and repeated it during a contentious Wednesday meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in front of cameras at the White House. Trump said at one point Wednesday: 'So we take (refugees) from many locations if we feel there's persecution or genocide going on. And we had a lot of people, I must tell you Mr. President – we have had a tremendous number of people, especially since they've seen this – generally they're white farmers, and they're fleeing South Africa.' During the meeting, Trump brandished printouts of what he said were reports about White South Africans being killed. He also had Ramaphosa sit through a video montage that included a clip of a demonstration featuring white crosses symbolizing South African farmers who were killed. Trump wrongly identified these as 'burial sites' – evoking the image of a mass grave – rather than symbols. And while Trump did tell a reporter that 'I haven't made up my mind' about whether genocide is occurring, he didn't explain that murders of White farmers are a miniscule percentage of overall murders in South Africa. From 1948 to 1994, South Africa was governed under the segregationist apartheid system that subjugated the Black majority (which made up about 81% of the 2022 population) and privileged the White minority (which made up about 7% of the 2022 population). In democratic elections from 1994 onward, it has elected the Black-led African National Congress now headed by Ramaphosa. Even when White farmers have been killed in South Africa, it has often been unclear that the crime was motivated by race. A South African government commission in 2003 found that the primary motive behind most attacks on farms was robbery. South African experts have reached similar conclusions this year. 'The isolation of farms makes farmers particularly vulnerable to crime, but this is a function of geography and socio-economic conditions rather than political or racial intent,' Anthony Kaziboni, a political and critical sociologist at the University of Johannesburg's Centre for Social Development in Africa, told for an article last week. 'Given the UN's definition, describing farm killings as genocide is a gross mischaracterization,' Kaziboni said. 'This does not diminish the seriousness of these crimes, nor the need for targeted rural safety interventions. But it is essential to approach such topics with clarity and care, grounded in credible evidence and context.' Even some White farmers themselves have said this year that farmers are often victimized because they are vulnerable targets and that what is happening is not 'genocide.' And Trump's own first administration highlighted doubts about the 'genocide' narrative. In 2020, late in Trump's first term, the State Department released a report on human rights in South Africa in which it said, 'Some advocacy groups asserted white farmers were racially targeted for burglaries, home invasions, and killings, while many observers attributed the incidents to the country's high and growing crime rate.' The State Department went on to surface arguments against the notion of race-motivated farm attacks. It wrote, 'According to the Institute for Security Studies, 'farm attacks and farm murders have increased in recent years in line with the general upward trend in South Africa's serious and violent crimes.'' The State Department then noted that, according to official South African statistics for the 2018-2019 period, 'farm killings represented only 0.2 percent of all killings in the country (47 of 21,022)' – the same percentage as in the data for the last three quarters of 2024. During the Wednesday meeting, Trump tried to bolster his case by making apparent reference to an expropriation law Ramaphosa signed this year in part to help remedy the racial inequality in land ownership that still plagues South Africa three decades after the end of apartheid. (A 2017 report found that White people owned 72% of the country's farms and agricultural holdings by individual landowners.) The new law has been attacked by Trump ally Elon Musk, who is from South Africa. The law requires the government to provide 'just and equitable' compensation, in most cases, to a landowner whose land is expropriated. But it also allows seizures without compensation in certain cases – from owners of any race – when the seizure is deemed 'in the public interest' and certain conditions are met, such as the land being abandoned, the land being unused because the owner's main purpose is to benefit from its appreciation, or the land having a market value the same or lower than government investments or subsidies in it. Trump claimed to Ramaphosa: 'You do allow them to take land. And then when they take the land, they kill the White farmer.' Trump was spinning fiction once more. No land had been seized under the new expropriation law as of mid-May, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, and Trump provided no evidence for his blanket assertion that White farmers are murdered after their land is taken. In February, after the Trump administration cited the expropriation law in an executive order freezing aid to South Africa, the chief executive of a trade association for South African farmers said in a statement: 'To be clear no seizures or confiscations of private property have taken place. Nor has any land been expropriated without compensation. Isolated cases of land grabs and trespassing have been dealt with.' The statement said that while the law allowed for expropriation without compensation, 'this does not mean expropriation without compensation is inevitable. The principle of just and equitable compensation remains intact, requiring a careful evaluation of all relevant factors.' CNN's Larry Madowo contributed to this article.
IOL News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
‘Genocide' lies and white victimhood: How far-right forces are undermining South Africa
Misinformation campaigns threaten South Africa's democracy and sovereignty Image: Saul Loeb Experts have warned that a concerted effort, potentially driven by foreign actors and aligned with domestic far-right groups, is fuelling misinformation campaigns, including false genocide claims against the white minority in South Africa. Independent Political analysts said that the country is currently grappling with a complex web of internal and external forces aiming to destabilise its democratic progress. They argued that these efforts threaten South Africa's sovereignty, damage diplomatic relations—particularly with the United States—and threaten the nation's hard-won social cohesion. Experts asserted that since South Africa publicly took a stand against human rights violations committed by Israel and voiced support for Palestinian rights, it has become the target of a coordinated misinformation campaign. This campaign seeks to distort South Africa's foreign policy, casting it as a rogue state aligned with 'evil' nations such as Iran and China, and accusing it of domestic racism and expropriation policies. Prominent South African-born billionaires, some with ties to President Donald Trump's circles, are believed to be involved in orchestrating smear campaigns. These narratives have gained traction in the US, leading to diplomatic repercussions such as the US government's decision to boycott South Africa's role as G20 chair in 2025—a move seen by analysts as a form of cold sanctioning linked to South Africa's foreign policy stance. Dr Oscar Van Heerden, a University of Johannesburg political analyst, suggested that these narratives are part of a broader effort to craft a negative image of South Africa, portraying it as a nation no longer embodying Nelson Mandela's values. 'It's about creating a narrative that South Africa is a failed state, riddled with corruption and crime, to justify external and internal interventions,' he said. The Rise of White Nationalist Ideology in the US Ashrad Patel, a Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD), linked these developments to the ideological currents within the current U.S. political landscape, particularly the so-called 'Project 2025' initiative related to the 'Make America Great Again' movement. 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 project, centered on white nationalist identity and anxieties over demographic change, echoes old apartheid-era narratives and has been embraced by certain South African opposition groups, including the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the far-right Freedom Front Plus (FF+),' Patel explained. 'The narrative of white victimhood and minority rights in South Africa is being exploited to rally support for these groups in the U.S., framing South Africa's policies, like land reform and affirmative action, as 'anti-white' and 'anti-Constitutional'. 'These narratives are then used to justify lobbying efforts and influence US policy, including the potential undermining of trade agreements like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).' Domestic and External Power Struggles Patel argued that the influence of South Africa's domestic political landscape is significant. 'The inclusion of the DA and FF+ in the government has provided a platform for these narratives, which are framed as protecting minority rights but are often rooted in racialised perceptions. 'The lobbying efforts by Afriforum, a prominent far-right organisation, and other interest groups have intensified within South Africa and the United States." Meanwhile, the US claims regarding the alleged genocide against white farmers have become a flashpoint. Critics argue that this narrative is weaponised to justify external pressure and distract from domestic challenges like high inequality. Allegations of Covert Operations and Diplomatic Interference Independent political analyst Joe Mhlanga raised concerns about covert operations to tarnish South Africa's image. 'It's alarming that private NGOs, funded by foreign interests, are engaging directly with US government officials on diplomatic issues concerning South Africa,' he said 'This blurs the lines of sovereignty and suggests a form of covert interference aimed at regime change." The South African government has responded by publicly criticising these efforts. Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced that the State Security Agency is actively gathering intelligence on individuals and organisations spreading misinformation. She condemned the US administration's acceptance of what she called 'Afrikaner Refugees'—a term used by groups like Afriforum to describe white South Africans claiming refugee status—arguing that there is no genocide in South Africa and that these claims are unfounded. Implications for South Africa's Democracy Van Heerden said these developments threaten decades of diplomatic progress and social cohesion. 'The narrative of a 'failed South Africa' is being weaponised to justify external sanctions, internal destabilisation, and the rollback of democratic reforms. 'The convergence of domestic far-right ideology, foreign interference, and misinformation campaigns creates a 'perfect storm' that could undermine the nation's stability." In an effort to mend relations, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced earlier this month that he will meet Trump in the US next week. IOL Politics
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kamala Harris Urges Collective Action in Troubled Time at NAACP Image Awards: 'We Have No Illusions About What We Are Up Against'
Former vice president and 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris received a hero's reception, including multiple standing ovations and enthusiastic applause, at the 2025 NAACP Image Awards, where she was on hand to receive the Chairman's Award. Seated in the audience with husband Doug Emhoff, Harris was introduced by NAACP board of directors chair Leon W. Russell. More from The Hollywood Reporter 2025 NAACP Image Awards: Winners List (Updating Live) Spirit Awards: Justin Simien Shares Plan for "Stopping the White Nationalist Coup Taking Over This Country" Mikey Madison Thanks Sean Baker While Accepting Spirit Awards Win: "I'm So Grateful That You Came Into My Life" 'Against impossible odds, she gave America a campaign that was a force of nature,' Russell said of Harris' 2024 presidential bid, which saw her ascend to the top of the Democratic ticket in late July after President Joe Biden ended his re-election effort. 'No one else could've accomplished what she did, and no one else is more deserving of our gratitude.' Harris, of course, ultimately lost the general election to the Republican candidate, President Donald Trump. However, she received more than 75 million votes after a campaign that lasted roughly 100 days. While Harris' political future remains unknown, she's been discussed as a potential candidate for California governor in 2026. There's also the possibility she could run for president again in 2028. Since leaving office last month, she returned to her home state of California where she's been seen helping the Los Angeles communities recover from the devastating wildfires. She was among the star-studded attendees of the FireAid benefit in L.A. last month. The 2025 NAACP Image Awards also marks her first major TV event since she left office. Russell called Harris a 'leader on the causes that truly matter, a strong voice for the powerless and a fighter for all of us,' who 'will continue to be an inspiration for generations to come.' After a highlight reel of her career, in which the show announcer described her as the 'first woman from our community' to become a major political party presidential nominee, said that she 'won' her Sept. 10 debate against Trump and thanked her for giving people 'the promise of a new dawn and better tomorrow,' Harris took the stage to accept her award. After her second standing ovation (the first came when Russell named her as the recipient of this year's honor), Harris, sporting a black pantsuit, identified herself as a 'proud lifetime member of the NAACP.' After that, she spoke about the organization's origins, bringing it forward to the present day. 'This organization came into being when our country struggled with greed, bitterness and hatred,' she said in part. 'Those who forged the NAACP, those who carried its legacy forward had no illusions about what they were up against, how stony the road would be.' 'But some look at this moment and rightly feel the weight of history,' she said. 'Some see the flames on our horizons, the rising waters in our cities, the shadows gathering over our democracy, and ask, 'What do we do now?' But we know exactly what to do, because we have done it before, and we will do it again.' She continued, 'We organize, mobilize, educate and advocate. Our power has never come from having an easy path. Our strength flows from our faith — faith in God, faith in each other, and our refusal to surrender to cynicism and destruction. Not because it is easy but because it is necessary. Not because victory is guaranteed, but because the fight is worth it.' She added, 'While we have no illusions about what we are up against in this chapter in our American story, this chapter will not be written simply by whoever occupies the Oval Office or by the wealthiest among us. The American story will be written by you, by we the people.' Harris closed her remarks with remarks befitting a longtime political leader, saying, 'God bless you and may God bless America.' The Chairman's Award recognizes people who have excelled in public service and leveraged their platforms to drive meaningful change. It has previously been given to such figures as Samuel L. Jackson, Tyler Perry, Danny Glover, Ruby Dee, Amanda Gorman, Rev. James Lawson, then-Senator Barack Obama, former Surgeon General Regina Benjamin and members of Congress such as Bennie G. Thompson, Maxine Waters and the late John Lewis. The 56th NAACP Image Awards, hosted by Deon Cole, is taking place Saturday night at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, with the ceremony airing on BET and CBS at 8 p.m. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2024: Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Olivia Rodrigo and More
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NAACP Image Awards: Cynthia Erivo, Kerry Washington, Halle Bailey and More Arrivals (Updating)
Entertainer of the year, a hall of fame induction for the Wayans family and a special honor for former Vice President Kamala Harris promise to be the highlights at Saturday's NAACP Image Awards at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Now in its 56th year, the NAACP Image Awards are focused on 'celebrating Black excellence and resilience,' according to an event release provided by BET, which is airing the ceremony living beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The network also is airing a red-carpet pre-how at 7 p.m. ET. Athletes, actors, musicians and writers of color have been honored by the NAACP since the Image Awards were first presented in August 1967. More from The Hollywood Reporter Spirit Awards: Justin Simien Shares Plan for "Stopping the White Nationalist Coup Taking Over This Country" Mikey Madison Thanks Sean Baker While Accepting Spirit Awards Win: "I'm So Grateful That You Came Into My Life" Most Memorable Spirit Awards Moments, From 'Anora' Winning Big to Natasha Rothwell's Emotional Speech Among the stars nominated this year: Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer Kendrick Lamar, Kevin Hart and Shannon Sharpe are vying for entertainer of the year. The comedic juggernaut that is the Wayans family will be inducted into the NAACP Hall of Fame, with Keenan Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans Sr., Marlon Wayans and Kim Wayans among the individuals to be recognized. Among the acting awards, Erivo also has been nominated for outstanding actress in a motion picture for Wicked, alongside Kerry Washington for The Six Triple Eight, Lashana Lynch for Bob Marley: One Love, Lupita Nyong'o for A Quiet Place: Day One and Regina King for Shirley. Former Vice President and Democratic Presidential candidate Harris is being honored with the evening's Chairman's Award, which in the past has been presented to the late Rep. John Lewis, the late actor Ruby Dee, former President Barack Obama and actor Samuel L. Jackson. NAACP board of directors chair Leon W. Russell called Harris 'more than a leader — she is a force of change, driven by an unwavering passion to shape a brighter, more equitable future.' Not unlike the Television Academy's Emmy Awards, the NAACP Image Awards are presented over multiple evenings due to the quantity of categories. Earlier in the week, winners included Beyoncé, who took home awards for both outstanding female artist and outstanding album, for Country Carter, while her 13-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy Carter won outstanding character voiceover performance for a motion picture, for her work in Mufasa: The Lion King. Here's a look at the arrivals at Saturday's NAACP Image Awards. Best of The Hollywood Reporter From 'Lady in the Lake' to 'It Ends With Us': 29 New and Upcoming Book Adaptations in 2024 Meet the Superstars Who Glam Up Hollywood's A-List Rosie O'Donnell on Ellen, Madonna, Trump and 40 Years in the Queer Spotlight
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Doctors Group Sues Federal Agencies For Scrubbing Online Health Data
Doctors for America, a group that represents thousands of medical professionals across all 50 states, is pushing back against President Donald Trump's administration over its decision to remove public health data and other information from government websites that health care experts use every day. The group on Tuesday filed a lawsuit in federal district court with help from Public Citizen, a legal advocacy organization, to challenge the Office of Personnel Management for allegedly directing the removal, as well as health agencies that took the information down: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the overarching Department of Health and Human Services. OPM issued a memo last month following Trump's Day 1 executive order on 'defending women.' The order calls on federal agencies to officially 'recognize two sexes, male and female,' and to 'use the term 'sex' and not 'gender'' in official documents. OPM told agency heads that they had two days to end programs that 'promote or inculcate gender ideology' and take down any 'outward facing media (websites, social media accounts, etc.) that inculcate or promote gender ideology,' among other things. Information removed included data on risk behaviors in children, materials guiding researchers on developing clinical trials, data on HIV infections and much more. The lawsuit stated that the removal 'creates a dangerous gap in the scientific data available to monitor and respond to disease outbreaks, deprives physicians of resources that guide clinical practice, and takes away key resources for communicating and engaging with patients.' 'The removal of this information deprives researchers of access to information that is necessary for treating patients, for developing clinical studies that produce results that accurately reflect the effects treatments will have in clinical practice, and for developing practices and policies that protect the health of vulnerable populations and the country as a whole,' the suit said. Zach Shelley, a lawyer for Public Citizen Litigation Group who is leading the suit, said in a statement that federal public health agencies 'exist to serve the American people by protecting public health.' 'Removing this vital information flouts that mandate,' he added. Trump has signed dozens of executive orders in his first days in office, sparking a flurry of legal action in protest. A separate suit filed in response to the gender-related order was brought by a transgender woman in federal prison to stop her from being transferred to a men's facility and being denied gender-affirming care. A judge temporarily halted the transfer. ACLU Sues Over Trump Shutting Down Asylum Access At The Southern Border Letitia James Tells Hospitals To Continue Transgender Care Despite Trump Order Lady Gaga, Chappell Roan Use Grammys To Defend Trans Rights After Trump Attacks Darren Beattie Has White Nationalist Ties. He's Trump's Pick For A Top State Department Role.
