The claim of a “white genocide” in South Africa has become a flashpoint in global politics, fueled by incendiary rhetoric from former U.S. President Donald Trump and his allies. During a tense White House meeting in May 2025, Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with sensationalized allegations, playing videos of anti-apartheid chants and displaying images of white crosses he falsely claimed were mass graves of murdered white farmers . Read more: https://russafrik.info/trump-accueille-des-afrikaners-blancs-vers-une-nouvelle-guerre-froide-diplomatique-avec-lafrique-du-sud/
But what is the reality behind these explosive claims? Interviews with South African farmers, experts, and officials reveal a far more nuanced picture one where violent crime affects all races, political opportunism distorts facts, and historical grievances over land reform remain unresolved.
The ‘White Genocide’ Narrative: Origins and Political Exploitation
The term “white genocide” is not new. It has roots in far-right conspiracy theories, particularly in the U.S., where it has been used to stoke fears of racial replacement . Trump’s recent revival of the claim echoed by his adviser Elon Musk, a South African expatriate has amplified a fringe narrative into mainstream discourse .
Claims vs. Reality
1. “Mass Killings of White Farmers”
– Trump’s Assertion: “Thousands” of white farmers are being systematically murdered, with land confiscated by the government .
– The Data:
. South Africa has one of the world’s highest murder rates (26,232 in 2024), but farm-related killings are a small fraction (44 in farming communities, only eight of whom were farmers) .
. Police reports do not break down victims by race, but independent data from the Transvaal Agricultural Union (TAU) shows 23 white and nine Black farm-related deaths in 2024 .
. A South African judge dismissed the genocide claim as “clearly imagined” .
2. “Government-Land Seizures Targeting Whites”
– Trump’s Claim: White-owned farms are being confiscated without compensation.
– The Reality:
. A new land reform law allows expropriation in rare cases (e.g., unused or abandoned land), but no forced seizures have occurred .
. The law aims to redress apartheid-era dispossession, where 72% of farmland remains white-owned despite whites being just 7% of the population .
3.”Incitement by Political Leaders”
– Trump’s Evidence: Videos of Julius Malema (opposition leader) singing “Kill the Boer”.
– Context:
.The song, an anti-apartheid protest chant was ruled free speech by South African courts, not a literal call to violence .
. Ramaphosa condemned the rhetoric but emphasized that crime affects all races .
Voices from the Ground: Farmers Speak
1. “It’s Not Genocide, But Crime Is Real”
Daryl Brown, a farmer in KwaZulu-Natal, rejects the genocide label but acknowledges fear:
“To say we’re experiencing a white genocide is pushing it. But ‘Kill the Boer’ rhetoric? That scares farmers of all colors”.
2. “We Feel Targeted”
Herman Du Toit, seeking U.S. asylum, disagrees:
“My neighbor was brutally killed. Is that just crime or genocide? To me, it’s genocide”
3. The Crosses Controversy
The white crosses Trump displayed were not graves but part of a 2020 protest memorializing murdered farmers like Glen and Vida Rafferty . Sandy Hill, a friend of the victims, said:
“The crosses reopened wounds. They were never meant to be propaganda”
Why This Narrative Persists
1. Political Weaponization
– Trump’s focus aligns with his broader “replacement theory” rhetoric, appealing to far right voters .
– South African opposition parties (like the EFF) use land reform slogans for populist gain, but the ANC denies systemic persecution .
2. Rural Crime vs. Racial Targeting
– Farms are vulnerable due to isolation, not race. Black farmworkers are also victims .
– Police Minister Senzo Mchunu: “Farm attacks are criminal, not racial”
3. Land Reform Tensions
Post-apartheid land redistribution has been slow, fueling frustration. The new law seeks to accelerate it without the chaos Trump alleges .
A Distraction from the Real Crisis
The “white genocide” myth obscures South Africa’s actual crisis: rampant violent crime affecting all citizens. While some white farmers feel endangered, the data shows no systematic racial extermination.
As historian Saul Dubow notes “Trump’s claims are fantasy. South Africa’s violence is criminal not genocidal”. The real tragedy is how geopolitical agendas distort local struggles and how easily disinformation spreads.
For international media, the lesson is clear: scrutinize sensational claims, listen to those on the ground, and resist narratives that serve political vendettas over truth.
Sources:
BBC, Reuters, Washington Post, Al Jazeera, ISS Africa, The Conversation, NBC News.
Additional Context User-provided transcript of farmer interviews.
Emebet Asefa , Correspondent Addis Ababa , Ethiopia
