Ramaphosa's remarks come as a group of Afrikaners land in the US after being granted refugee status due to alleged discrimination. He defends his country's efforts in addressing post-apartheid inequities, asserting the need for resilience rather than fleeing problems.
Ramaphosa Labels White South Africans Resettling in the US as "Cowards"
Ramaphosa Labels White South Africans Resettling in the US as "Cowards"
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa criticizes 59 white Afrikaners relocating to the US, blaming them for not confronting local issues.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has sparked controversy by labeling a group of 59 white South Africans relocating to the United States as "cowards." This comment follows their arrival in the US on Monday after President Donald Trump granted them refugee status, citing fears of racial discrimination in South Africa.
Ramaphosa expressed concerns during a speech at an agricultural exhibition in the Free State province, emphasizing that those choosing to leave are dissatisfied with the ongoing efforts to address racial inequalities stemming from the apartheid era. "It's a sad moment for them. We are resilient as South Africans. We don’t run away from our problems. We must stay and solve them,” he asserted.
The group, largely composed of Afrikaners—descendants of Dutch settlers—has been welcomed in the US with claims of having lived under a "shadow of violence and terror" in South Africa. Trump has previously stated that they were escaping a "terrible situation," an assertion Ramaphosa challenges by insisting that the claims of Afrikaners facing genocide in South Africa are unfounded.
While tensions rise due to ongoing debates about land reform, Ramaphosa recently signed a law allowing for land expropriation without compensation, although he maintains that no land has yet been seized under this provision.
In a phone call with Trump, Ramaphosa condemned the US perspective on the situation, asserting that South Africa's historical context has always acknowledged the presence of the colonizers. "We're the only country on the continent where the colonizers came to stay and we have never driven them out," he claimed.
As the discussion unfolds, Ramaphosa has emphasized his upcoming meeting with Trump to address these issues, amidst pressures regarding the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa, where Trump has hinted at a boycott if the situation isn’t adequately resolved.
