President Donald Trump has once again claimed that a “white genocide” is taking place in South Africa, citing violence against Afrikaner farmers.
He made the statement during a special meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, where he presented photos and other materials he claimed proved “racially motivated killings.”
Trump accused the South African government of orchestrated violence, stating: “We cannot stand by while a specific group of people is being targeted for murder.”
However, research institutions, legal experts, and analysts have condemned these remarks as exaggerated and misleading.
According to South Africa’s official intelligence service, national police statistics show that 44 people were killed on farms in 2024, including 8 white farmers—representing less than 0.2% of all murders in the country that year.
Prof. Themba Ndlovu, an expert in international law, stated: “These claims are an attempt to use fear-based racial narratives for political gain. Genocide is a serious legal term and shouldn’t be used carelessly in political discourse.”
Trump also criticized President Ramaphosa’s new land policy, which would allow the government to expropriate underutilized land “for public benefit.” Though still under legal review, no land has been forcibly taken or denied compensation.
A 2023 land audit showed that 75% of land in South Africa is still in white hands, while Black citizens own less than 5%, a legacy of apartheid.
While in New York at the UN, Ramaphosa responded: “Claims of genocide aimed at removing whites from land are attempts to divide our nation by fueling racial suspicion.”
Trump also referenced the song “Kill the Boer,” often sung at political rallies by Julius Malema’s EFF party, claiming it incites violence against whites. However, South African courts have ruled it is a historic liberation song, not a call to violence.
Historian Dr. Lindiwe Mkhize explained: “For genocide to be recognized legally, there must be proof of intent and systematic actions to eliminate a specific group.”
She added: “Grave crimes or discrimination do not automatically amount to genocide—it requires careful legal assessment, not provocative political language.”
The UN’s Genocide Prevention Office urged global leaders to “be mindful of the language they use, especially regarding histories of mass violence.”
To date, no international body has supported Trump’s claims. Most experts view his statements as political rhetoric rather than legal argument.
