Mathew Amaechi
South Africans across racial and political lines expressed outrage on Thursday over U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated false claims of a “white genocide” targeting farmers — allegations that overshadowed high-stakes talks aimed at mending fractured ties between the two nations.
The diplomatic meeting on Wednesday between Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa sought to address tensions sparked by Trump’s threats of trade tariffs and the expulsion of South Africa’s ambassador earlier this year. But the dialogue was derailed when Trump revived debunked assertions of widespread violence against white farmers and land expropriations, drawing sharp rebukes from citizens and analysts alike.
“He’s spreading lies about our country,” said Naledi Morwalle, 25, a Johannesburg saleswoman. “We’re focused on justice and equality, not revenge.” Her sentiment echoed nationwide frustration, with many accusing Trump of exploiting South Africa’s fraught racial history for political gain.
During the meeting, Trump aired a controversial video featuring a fringe opposition leader chanting an anti-apartheid-era song referencing “killing” white farmers, alongside imagery of white crosses falsely presented as graves of murdered landowners. Analysts noted the footage visibly unsettled Ramaphosa, who countered that Black South Africans disproportionately bear the brunt of the nation’s crime epidemic.
“President Ramaphosa began composed, but the video shifted the tone,” said Thelela Ngcetane-Vika, a governance expert at Wits University. “He missed an opportunity to dismantle the disinformation with data.”
Trump’s claims ignore South Africa’s reality: White farmers, descendants of Dutch settlers, own over 75% of commercial farmland despite constituting just 7% of the population. Land reform, a contentious issue since apartheid’s end in 1994, has been a priority for Ramaphosa’s government, which insists redistribution will be lawful and equitable.
For Nicole Mbhele, a university student, Trump’s rhetoric felt like a betrayal. “He’s painting us as vengeful killers. It’s insulting,” she said.
While some praised Ramaphosa’s measured diplomacy, others argued for fiercer pushback. Activist Ulrich Steenkamp acknowledged the delegation’s efforts but stressed, “The world must choose truth over propaganda.”
Amid the uproar, economic concerns linger. Arthur Williams, an Afrikaner father, urged pragmatism: “What matters now is securing trade deals that benefit both nations.”
