President Cyril Ramaphosa has labeled a group of 59 white South African Afrikaners relocating to the United States as "cowards," arguing that they are fleeing their responsibilities to confront the nation's challenges. This group received refugee status from former President Donald Trump, who claimed they were escaping significant racial discrimination in South Africa.
Ramaphosa expressed his disappointment at their departure during an agricultural exhibition in the Free State province, suggesting those choosing to leave were not fully supportive of initiatives aimed at rectifying inequalities stemming from apartheid. "As South Africans, we are resilient. We don't run away from our problems. We must stay here and solve our problems," he stated. He further asserted that he anticipates their return, claiming, “I can bet you that they will be back soon because there is no country like South Africa.”
These comments come against a backdrop of heightened tensions relating to land ownership — an issue deeply rooted in South Africa's apartheid history. While the U.S. has criticized the South African government for allegedly seizing land without compensation, Ramaphosa insists that no such actions have been executed under a recent controversial law enabling such measures.
In contrast to Ramaphosa's perspective, Trump has painted a dire picture of the situation for Afrikaners, describing their conditions in South Africa as a "terrible situation," and vocally welcoming them upon their arrival in the U.S.
In a recent phone conversation with Trump, Ramaphosa refuted claims of persecution faced by white South Africans, stating, "We're the only country on the continent where the colonizers came to stay and we have never driven them out of our country." He maintains that the current situation is misrepresented.
As Ramaphosa prepares for an upcoming meeting with Trump, discussions are expected to further illuminate the complexities of racial dynamics and land reform efforts in South Africa, especially in light of internationally stirred emotions from the recent resettlement.
