Thousands of South African Afrikaners gathered outside the US embassy in Pretoria on Saturday, voicing their support for President Donald Trump and his stance on South Africa’s controversial Expropriation Act. Protesters, some holding signs that read “Mr Donald Trump Thank You Very Much” and “Make South Africa Great Again,” rallied in support of Trump’s decision to cut funding to South Africa, which was sparked by the South African government’s land expropriation policy aimed at redistributing land from white farmers without compensation.
Willem Petzer, an Afrikaner commentator, shared a video on social media claiming over 3,000 people attended the rally. The protesters were there to show their approval of Trump’s actions, which they believe align with their interests and concerns about the country’s land policies.
The US embassy in Pretoria responded to the protest by acknowledging the petition delivered by the demonstrators. The petition, which was addressed to President Trump, sought US support to challenge South Africa’s land expropriation laws, particularly the policies affecting the Afrikaner community. The embassy confirmed it would transmit the full petition to President Trump and the US Secretary of State for immediate action.
The rally follows Trump’s executive order to cut US aid to South Africa, citing the Expropriation Act, which he claims could disproportionately affect Afrikaner farmers. Trump also accused the South African government of fostering violence against ethnic minority landowners and undermining US foreign policy by taking positions against US allies, including Israel, and strengthening relations with Iran.
This protest underscores the growing tension between the US and South Africa over the land expropriation issue. While the US government’s actions have sparked support from some South African Afrikaners, they have also raised broader concerns about the country’s land reform policies and international relations.
