South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has strongly rejected claims by US President Donald Trump that white farmers in South Africa are victims of an orchestrated genocide, using a high-level meeting in Washington to push back against the narrative and steer the conversation toward economic cooperation.
Asked pointedly what would convince him there is no genocide in South Africa, Ramaphosa replied, “It will take President Trump listening to the voices of South Africans, some of whom are his good friends, like those who are here. When we have talks between us on another quiet table, it will take President Trump to listen to them.”
Ramaphosa dismissed allegations of systematic violence targeting white farmers as unfounded. “If there was Afrikaner farmer genocide, I can bet you these three gentlemen would not be here, including my Minister of Agriculture. He would not be with me,” he said, gesturing toward members of his delegation.
Joining Ramaphosa was Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, who also leads South Africa’s opposition Democratic Alliance and is one of the country’s most prominent white political figures. Steenhuisen directly addressed Trump’s repeated claims that white farmers are fleeing South Africa due to persecution.
“The majority of farmers want to stay in South Africa rather than leave, as the group who have come to the US have,” he stated. He noted that the government is implementing measures to protect all farmers, including combating livestock theft, a growing concern in rural areas.
Steenhuisen also criticised the video footage Trump had earlier presented in the Oval Office, which featured controversial firebrand politician Julius Malema. “The people shown in that video are not government officials,” he said. “We need support from allies so we can strengthen our economy and shut the door on people like Malema.”
South African billionaire Johann Rupert, who was also present, echoed the need to move beyond race-based narratives. “South Africa has too many deaths, and they are across racial groups,” Rupert said, emphasising that violent crime is a broader societal issue. Turning to Elon Musk—another South African-born figure in the room—Rupert added, “We need Starlink at every police station,” referring to the need for improved communication infrastructure.
Ramaphosa used the meeting to reframe the US-South Africa relationship as one based on partnership and economic opportunity. “Criminality thrives when people are unemployed,” he said. “Our main, real reason for being here is to foster trade and investment, so that we are able to grow our economy—with your support.”
While Trump has previously doubled down on claims of a “white genocide” in South Africa, widely discredited by international human rights watchdogs, South African officials took a firm and united stance to counter what they described as a mischaracterization of the country’s complex realities.
The meeting marked a strategic diplomatic effort by Ramaphosa’s administration to pivot the narrative from polarising rhetoric toward long-term development goals.
Chioma Kalu
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