Cape Town – Preparations are underway for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s working visit to the United States, where he will meet US President Donald Trump.
The visit comes amid growing tensions between the two countries, particularly over claims of human rights violations against white Afrikaner farmers in South Africa.
The US recently flew 49 Afrikaner farmers and their families to Washington under refugee status — a move South Africa disputes.
Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Monday, President Ramaphosa firmly stated that the migrants in question do not meet the international standards required for refugee status.
He added that he had a conversation with US President Donald Trump, during which he clarified that the information Trump had received was inaccurate.
Ramaphosa dismissed claims Afrikaners were being persecuted and said he recently told Trump what he is being told about their situation “is not true.”
“A refugee is someone who has to leave their country out of fear of political persecution, religious persecution, or economic persecution,” Ramaphosa said. “And they don’t fit that bill.”
“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 added at a forum in Abidjan.
[WATCH] President Cyril Ramaphosa says he has spoken to his United States counterpart, Donald Trump, about South African policies in relation to transformation. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/yl3JbKVHU3
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) May 12, 2025
“I told him I would like to come and meet him so that we can discuss this matter further,” said Ramaphosa.
The Minister of International Relation and Cooperation Ronald Lamola also scoffed at claims that white Afrikaners face persecution or are being targeted for murder.
Most victims of killings in South Africa are young black men in urban areas, according to official data.
“The crime that we have in South Africa affects everyone irrespective of race and gender,” Lamola said.
[WATCH] International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola says the Afrikaner group relocating to the US does not qualify for refugee status. The group is expected to arrive in the US today. Speaking to SABC International News Editor Sophie Mokoena, Lamola also confirmed that… pic.twitter.com/ba1gQhab8m
— SABC News (@SABCNews) May 12, 2025
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
