Ramaphosa slams Afrikaners moving to US as ‘cowards’
Ramaphosa condemns Afrikaner migrants as “cowards” for leaving South Africa, accusing them of running away from land reform and racial challenges.
A group of 49 Afrikaners who arrived in the United States on Monday, 12 May, has drawn sharp criticism from President Cyril Ramaphosa, who labelled them “cowards” and predicted their return to South Africa shortly.
The group received refugee status from US President Donald Trump, with American authorities asserting that the Afrikaners face racial discrimination and live under a “shadow of violence and terror” in South Africa, according to the BBC.
Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau and other senior US officials welcomed the group at Dulles Airport, just outside Washington DC.
Ramaphosa slams refugee status decision
Speaking at an agricultural expo in the Free State, Ramaphosa rejected the widely discredited claim by Trump and his ally Elon Musk that Afrikaners face “genocide.”
Daily Maverick reported that, Ramaphosa said, “As South Africans, we are resilient. We don’t run away from our problems. When you run away, you are a coward, and that’s a real cowardly act.”
He added that those who left were unhappy with the government’s efforts to address historical injustice.
“They are not favourably disposed to our national transformation agenda. But I can bet you they’ll be back soon because there is no country like South Africa.”
US-South Africa tension over land reform
Tensions between the US and South Africa have escalated following the signing of a law by Ramaphosa allowing land expropriation without compensation under specific conditions.
The South African government insists that it has not seized any land yet.
Trump has offered to resettle Afrikaners, whom he described as fleeing a “terrible situation.” Ramaphosa, however, said they “don’t fit the bill” for refugee status.
Leaders to meet over dispute
Ramaphosa revealed that he recently told Trump during a phone call that the US assessment of South Africa was “not true.”
He also announced plans to meet with Trump soon to resolve the matter.
Trump has threatened to boycott the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa if South Africa does not address the issue.