South Africa President Explains to Trump Why White Farmers Do Not Qualify as Refugees
white South Africans make up about 8% of the population, they account for just 2% of murder victims—making them statistically less likely to be victims of violence than their Black counterparts.
The President of the United States will not listen to reason or logic – as he continues to spread the false claims that white people are being targeted for genocide in South Africa. Despite a lack of evidence, Donald Trump has doubled down on this narrative, most recently granting refugee status to 49 white South Africans, claiming they are victims of racial persecution.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has firmly rejected these claims, calling them a “completely false narrative.” Speaking during a presidential panel discussion at the Africa CEO Forum in Côte d’Ivoire, Ramaphosa emphasized that the South African government does not persecute any racial group, including the white minority. He stated unequivocally, “Those people who fled are not being persecuted. They are not being hounded. They are not being treated badly. There is a sense that they do not want to embrace the changes taking place in our country in accordance with our Constitution.”
Ramaphosa added that those who claim to be victims are, in fact, part of a “fringe grouping” that is opposed to South Africa’s post-apartheid transformation. “They would actually like to see South Africa going back to apartheid-type policies and I said I will never do this. I learned at the feet of Nelson Mandela and we intend to proceed with implementation in our institutions,” he said.
President Trump, however, has publicly referred to the situation in South Africa as “genocide,” alleging that white farmers are being “brutally killed” and having their land seized. These claims, however, are not supported by facts. According to Genocide Watch, although white South Africans make up about 8% of the population, they account for just 2% of murder victims—making them statistically less likely to be victims of violence than their Black counterparts.
The South African Police Services have also pushed back against Trump’s allegations. In a statement released on May 9, they said, “The statistics on farm-related crimes do not support allegations of violent crime targeted at farmers generally or any particular race.”
International human rights experts have also dismissed Trump’s claims. Mandeep Tiwana, Chief Officer of Evidence and Engagement at CIVICUS, a human rights organization based in Johannesburg, stated, “Genocide has a very clear definition, and what is happening in South Africa with white South Africans does not fit the definition at all. In fact, white South Africans are a privileged minority.”
Despite this overwhelming evidence, Trump has chosen to make an exception for the group of 49 white South Africans who arrived at Dulles International Airport on May 12. The Trump administration has rolled out the red carpet for them, even as it has closed the door on thousands of refugees fleeing real violence and political instability in countries like Haiti, Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau welcomed the group personally, telling them, “Welcome to the United States of America. It is such an honor for us to receive you here today.” He referenced the “long tradition of your people,” specifically the Afrikaner ethnic group, many of whom descend from Dutch colonists.
However, this preferential treatment has sparked outrage among refugee advocates. Laura Thompson Osuri, Executive Director of Homes Without Borders, was one of a handful of protesters at the airport holding signs reading “Afrikaners are not refugees.” She pointed out the hypocrisy of allowing this group in while “tens of thousands of actual refugees are not allowed to enter.”
“This is just performative,” Osuri said. “They’re not fleeing war, violence, or persecution. This is absurd.”
The Episcopal Church’s migration ministry also voiced its disapproval, announcing it would end all refugee resettlement grant agreements after being asked to help resettle the Afrikaners. “It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years,” said Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe.
President Ramaphosa, addressing these concerns, revealed that he had spoken directly with Trump about the issue. “In passing, I said, what is happening down there? What you are being told by those people who are opposed to transformation at home in South Africa is not true,” he recounted. He reminded Trump that South Africa is unique in that the colonizers never left, and yet the country has not retaliated against them.
“We are making great progress,” Ramaphosa said. “We are the only country on the continent where the colonizers came to stay, and we have never driven them out of the country.”
The controversy comes amid Trump’s broader rollback of refugee protections. One of his first acts in office was to shut down the refugee resettlement program, cutting off vital pathways for asylum seekers. Critics have argued that by selectively admitting white South Africans, the administration is signaling a racially motivated bias in its immigration policy.
As Trump continues to push a narrative not grounded in fact, African leaders like Ramaphosa remain focused on unifying the continent through economic integration and social transformation. Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum, Ramaphosa called on African nations to take ownership of their development through mechanisms like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). “We are in charge of the future of this continent, and we must build peace ourselves,” he said.
While Trump’s actions may resonate with certain political factions in the U.S., his portrayal of South Africa as a country committing genocide against its white minority remains firmly rejected by the South African government, human rights groups, and international observers. As Ramaphosa emphasized, “Those people are not being persecuted. They just don’t want to embrace the democratic transformation we are undertaking.”
