In a powerful moment of diplomatic pushback, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa swiftly shut down U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of a so-called ‘white genocide’ in South Africa — using two prominent figures standing beside him as undeniable evidence.
“If there truly were a white genocide in South Africa, Johann Rupert and John Steenhuisen wouldn’t be here with me today,” Ramaphosa told Trump during their high-stakes meeting at the White House on May 21.
The statement was both cutting and composed — a direct challenge to Trump’s controversial claim, which has circulated for years among far-right groups despite being thoroughly discredited by crime data and independent investigations.
A Calm but Forceful Rebuttal
Trump, who earlier in the meeting played video clips of opposition leaders Julius Malema and Jacob Zuma to paint South Africa as a nation in racial collapse, was met with a unified front from the South African delegation. Ramaphosa, flanked by billionaire businessman Johann Rupert and opposition leader-turned-Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, made it clear that South Africa is not the racial battlefield many foreign voices suggest.
“This is a democracy, not a war zone,” Ramaphosa said. “We are dealing with serious challenges — crime, inequality, land reform — but to label it genocide is irresponsible and dishonest.”
A Strategic Use of Symbolism
The presence of Rupert — one of South Africa’s most powerful white business figures — and Steenhuisen — head of the historically white-led Democratic Alliance — was not incidental. Their inclusion in Ramaphosa’s U.S. delegation sent a clear message: South Africa is not engaged in racial purging; it’s navigating a complex, multiracial, democratic transformation.
By highlighting their presence, Ramaphosa reminded Trump and the world that white South Africans are not only safe — they are part of the country’s leadership, diplomacy, and solutions.
The Facts Say Otherwise
Crime is a serious issue in South Africa — but not one that targets race. In 2024, over 26,000 murders were recorded nationally, with only 44 tied to farming incidents, involving both Black and white victims. The claim of genocide has been repeatedly debunked by South African crime statistics, independent observers, and even Rupert himself, who called the crisis “a national, not racial, emergency.”
