Washington DC [US], May 22 (HBTV): US President Donald Trump, during a meeting at the White House on Wednesday (local time), confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with claims that white South Africans—particularly Afrikaner farmers—are being systematically murdered, according to The Hill.

The report noted that Trump's administration recently introduced a policy allowing Afrikaner farmers expedited access to refugee status and US citizenship, despite limited evidence supporting claims of targeted violence. This marks a departure from the administration’s typically strict stance on immigration.

Ramaphosa, a former anti-apartheid activist and freedom fighter, diplomatically challenged Trump’s assertions. During the meeting, Trump reportedly played a nearly four-minute video shared by Afrikaner advocacy groups. The video included inflammatory clips of Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), portraying him as a threat and suggesting that Ramaphosa should have him arrested for inciting violence. Malema was previously expelled from the African National Congress.

Trump further claimed that white farmers are having their land seized and are being murdered, citing news clippings he said reflected escalating violence. He also referenced the Witkruis Monument, a memorial of white crosses in South Africa, describing it as a mass burial site for murdered white farmers—though the monument is symbolic and honours victims of farm attacks regardless of race.

‘It’s more than just a little movement — it’s a pretty big movement in South Africa,’ Trump said of Malema’s EFF, as quoted by The Hill. ‘Their land is being confiscated and, in many cases, they’re being killed.’

In response, Ramaphosa rejected the genocide narrative. He clarified that Malema leads a small opposition party and is allowed to express his views under the South African constitution. He acknowledged that crime is a serious concern in the country but rejected the claim that white farmers are disproportionately affected.

‘Our government policy is completely, completely against what you were saying, even in the Parliament,’ Ramaphosa said, as quoted by The Hill. ‘They’re a small minority party which is allowed to exist, in terms of our constitution.’

Afrikaners—descendants of Dutch settlers—comprise less than 7 per cent of South Africa’s population but held power during apartheid until 1994. Ramaphosa, who served under Nelson Mandela, became president in 2018 following a career in business and labour leadership.

South Africa’s Parliament recently passed legislation to address land inequality as part of efforts to redress apartheid-era injustices. Although no land has yet been seized under the new law, critics—including Elon Musk, who was present at the meeting—have cited the reform as a threat to white South Africans. Musk has also claimed that his company, Starlink, cannot operate in South Africa due to Black Economic Empowerment laws.

According to The Hill, no international organisation has recognised the situation in South Africa as genocide. The country’s 2024 crime statistics reported 6,032 murders, with only 44 occurring on farms and just one involving a farmer. The data does not indicate the race of the victims.

(ANI)