Worldview: Ramaphosa slams 'cowardly' refugees, rejects Trump's 'white genocide' claims

Key topics:Ramaphosa calls white SA emigrants “cowards” for leavingTrump grants Afrikaners refugee status, citing discriminationSA defends land reform, denies white persecution claims.Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here.Support South Africa’s bastion of independent journalism, offering balanced insights on investments, business, and the political economy, by joining BizNews Premium. Register here.If you prefer WhatsApp for updates, sign up to the BizNews channel here..By Kerry Lanaghan.President Cyril Ramaphosa has strongly criticised a group of 59 white South Africans, mainly Afrikaners, who emigrated to the United States after being granted refugee status by the Trump administration. Labelling them "cowards", Ramaphosa said their departure stemmed from unwillingness to support the country's efforts to redress historical injustices and inequality arising from apartheid. Speaking at an agricultural event in the Free State, he remarked that South Africans, regardless of race, should remain to confront national challenges rather than flee.The migrants were welcomed by senior US officials, including Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau, who described them as victims of "violence and terror” in South Africa. Their arrival at Dulles airport in Washington, DC, was marked by a patriotic display, with balloons and American flags.The US justification for granting refugee status centres on claims of racial discrimination and violence against white South Africans, particularly farmers - a narrative endorsed by Trump and his ally, Elon Musk. However, such claims, including accusations of “white genocide,” have been widely discredited and rejected by the South African government.Ramaphosa reiterated that South Africa had never expelled its white population, highlighting its inclusive approach. He said Trump’s characterisation of the situation was inaccurate and that the Afrikaners who emigrated did not meet the criteria for refugee status. According to US requirements, refugee eligibility involves evidence of past or feared persecution based on race or minority status.Ramaphosa defended a new land reform law allowing expropriation without compensation under specific conditions but stressed that no land had yet been seized. He argued that such reforms are essential for addressing racial disparities in land ownership, an enduring legacy of apartheid.The president, who is expected to meet Trump soon, remains confident the emigrants will return, stating, “There is no country like South Africa." His comments have sparked debate on social media, with some accusing him of insensitivity toward white South Africans' grievances.(This article is a précis of a piece originally published in BBC and can be read in full here.)

Worldview: Ramaphosa slams 'cowardly' refugees, rejects Trump's 'white genocide' claims

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