The meeting between US President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office initially seemed normal and cordial, but that changed when Ramaphosa protested against recent allegations of genocide against white farmers. To prove his point, Trump played a video for his guest.
The video, which was broadcast during Wednesday’s visit, showed radical leader Julius Malema and other black political leaders shouting slogans such as “Kill the farmer!” and “Shoot to kill!” at rallies. The video also showed threats to confiscate farmland owned by white farmers and scenes of a large memorial for the murdered farmers, represented by more than a thousand crosses along the roadside.
The South African President initially tried to avoid discussing the issue in question, preferring instead to talk about trade, investments and efforts for world peace. However, the South African journalists present in the room wanted Trump to talk about the recent genocide claim and his refugee policy for white Afrikaners. Cyril Ramaphosa insisted that Trump should enquire directly with South Africans on the matter. He pointed to the three white South Africans he had brought with him, including golf players Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, as well as the Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen, leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance party, which is now working with the African National Congress (ANC) in a government of national unity.
Ramaphosa insisted that this was not the government’s position
Trump responded by playing the aforementioned video, which meant that Ramaphosa and the journalists were forced to watch the clip in its entirety, and the South African President, in response, asked Trump where the memorial shown was located. Then, in his defence, Ramaphosa began to explain that the claims that had been made in the video had been made by representatives of small opposition parties. Steenhuisen added that his party had joined the African National Congress precisely to prevent these parties from entering government.
Trump commented on what was said, noting that if they managed to fill large stadiums with their supporters, they were obviously big enough parties. He also asked why Julius Malema, in particular, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), had not been arrested. Trump then asked Elsa to comment on the matter. He pointed out that although it had been 35 years since Nelson Mandela was released from prison, South Africa had still not fulfilled its potential. “Two wrongs do not make a right,” he said, referring to racism against whites. He expressed his belief that their country needs US help to introduce reforms.
Goosen confirmed Trump’s concerns about attacks on farmers and crime in general, according to Breitbart. Businessman Johann Rupert pointed out that the victims of the murders were both black and white. He and a trade union representative expressed concern about economic growth and warned that the termination of the African Growth and Opportunity Act – AGOA trade agreement or the exclusion of South Africa from it could mean the loss of many jobs in a country already facing high unemployment.
The US President, however, did not make it clear at the meeting whether he intends to attend the G20 summit in South Africa in November, nor did he comment on what his expectations are regarding South Africa’s case against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and what compromises he expects South Africa to make.
Ž. N.
