Trump rehashes ‘white genocide’ claims

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) and the Presidency have contradicted each other over the acceptance of a new designated ambassador to the US, Roelf Meyer, as President Donald Trump continues with his claims of a “white genocide” taking place in South Africa. While Ramaphosa has expressed confidence that the US will accept Meyer’s credentials, noting that South Africa accepted the credentials of Trump’s envoy, Leo Brent Bozell III, the process remains a point of tension. This is after Trump reiterated that a “genocide” is occurring in South Africa, claiming white people are being targeted and killed for their race.

The US President made these claims during a Turning Point USA rally in Phoenix on Friday. He described the situation as a “horrible thing”. The South African government has repeatedly dismissed these claims, saying there is no evidence of genocide or racially targeted killings of white farmers, and that crime in the country affects people across all communities.

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula also dismissed these claims as “unsubstantiated”, “lies”, and “racist tropes” designed to paint Black South Africans as “savages”. This comes days after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Meyer as the designated ambassador to the US.