‘Simply not true!’ – FW de Klerk Foundation dismisses Trump’s claims

Cape Town – The FW de Klerk Foundation has dismissed false claims made by United States President Donald Trump, after he reignited allegations of genocide against Afrikaners in South Africa.

Trump withdrew from the G20 Summit upon learning that South Africa would be the host nation, accusing the country of violating Afrikaner human rights.

According to IOL, the foundation’s Executive Director, Christo van der Rheede, emphasized the need for unity among South Africans in collectively rejecting such statements.

“It is now very important for all South African citizens to unite and refute the statements by President Donald Trump, his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio and others, that Afrikaners are being killed and slaughtered and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated.

“This is simply not true!” said Van der Rheede.

With this announcement, it is clear that @PresidencyZA @CyrilRamaphosa and the ANC-led @GovernmentZA‘s strategy to reset relations with the US and President @realDonaldTrump is failing dismally. The relationship cannot be repaired through denialism or by falsely accusing… pic.twitter.com/36tZHS9aDS

— Kallie Kriel (@kalliekriel) November 8, 2025

Van der Rheede explained that rejecting these claims does not imply that South Africans are ignoring or accepting the country’s existing challenges.

“It will not mean that South Africans accept the current state of affairs in the country. In fact, all South Africans across racial lines must unite and raise their discontent with the high levels of corruption, violence, lack of service delivery, slow economic growth and many other challenges we face as a nation.

“And exercise their constitutional right to elect credible and caring representatives to take up public office at local government level during the up and coming elections,” said Van der Rheede.

According to EWN, Van der Rheede added that the statements are false, divisive, and harmful to South Africa’s image ahead of the upcoming G20 Summit in Johannesburg later this month.

He further cautioned that Trump’s remarks, amplified by AfriForum and Solidarity, have intensified racial tensions and eroded trust among South Africans.

“I’ve never seen the division so stark, especially on social media, in the public discourse. We cannot allow Donald Trump to make these claims, and it goes unchallenged because it’s South Africa that, in the end, has to deal with it,” he said.

He added that although South Africa continues to grapple with significant governance and corruption issues, these challenges should not be mistaken for racial persecution.