Cyril Ramaphosa Calls for the US To Assist South Africa in Fighting Crime Targeting White Farmers

• President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the Economic Freedom Fighters president Julius Malema singing "Kill the Boer" chant, and repeated that there was no white genocide
• This was after Ramaphosa and Trump held their bilateral meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, United States, and called on Trump to assist in fighting crime targeting white farmers
• Ramaphosa was joined by ministers Ronald Lamola, Parks Tau, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, John Steenhuisen, and businessmen Johann Rupert and Adrian Gore
• Briefly News spoke to Dr Angelo Dube, the Director of the School of Law and Professor of International Law about Ramaphosa's visit

Tebogo Mokwena, affiliated with Briefly News, covered local and international relations, political analysis, and interviews in South Africa for Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News during his 10 years of experience.

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES — President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the president of the Economic Freedom Fighters, Julius Malema, for singing the Kill the Boer chant. He and Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen also said that there was no white genocide and called on Trump to lend a hand in solving farm murders. This was during the working meeting that Ramaphosa had with United States President Donald Trump on 21 May 2025 at the Oval Office in the White House in Washington, United States.

Ramaphosa in the White House

Ramaphosa and Trump held a bilateral discussion in the Oval Office on 21 May 2025. He said the two countries relied on each other, including critical minerals that South Africa can offer to the United States, including the rare earth minerals. He said this is part of what makes a really good relationship.

The Minister of International Relations, Ronald Lamola, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, the Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, and the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, joined Ramaphosa for the bilateral meeting. He was also joined by billionaire Johann Rupert and legendary golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.

Trump said the US government has heard complaints about Africa and said that the issues in Africa will be discussed. He denied that the US government is selective in granting refugee status after 49 Afrikaners relocated to the United States. He told Trump that the government had heard tremendous complaints of white genocide and asked for an explanation.

Ramaphosa said it would take listening to the voices of South Africa about the allegations of white genocide. He said if there were an Afrikaner farm genocide, Steenhuisen, Rupert, Els, and Goosen would not be at the meeting. The White House then played EFF president Julius Malema singing the Kill the Boer chant. Trump then showed a documentary, which was purported to be evidence.

No white genocide: Ramaphosa

Ramaphosa clarified that the Kill the Boer song is not government policy. He said the country has a multi-party system where political parties express themselves. He said the government policy is completely against what Malema said. Ramaphosa said the EFF is a small minority party. Ramaphosa said that the country has a high level of crime, and people who are killed are not white.

Ramaphosa said crime in the country requires technology that will identify where white shootings take place. He said the US can support the country by providing technology to help fight crime. Ramaphosa also responded to a question about the Expropriation Act. He said the government has not taken land from any Afrikaner

Tension between SA and the US

Ramaphosa's visit to the United States came after months of tensions between the two countries. The United States accused the South African government of persecuting Afrikaners and enacting a white genocide. He also accused the government of seizing farmers' land.

Briefly News speaks to expert

Speaking to Briefly News, Dr Angelo Dube, the Director of the School of Law and Professor of International Law, weighed in on Ramaphosa condemning the "Kill the Boer" chant.

"As head of the executive arm of government, President Ramaphosa is expected to denounce that which seems to shock the sensibilities of humankind. However, his responses come within the context of a robust judicial system in South Africa before which the very same song has been repeatedly challenged and its constitutionality upheld," he said.

"These flowed from the contextualization of the lyrics and the symbolism of the song in this African context, with our courts knowing that it is not necessarily a call to genocide, but a call to dismantle the vestiges of the apartheid regime. President Ramaphosa’s response should also be understood in his defence of the South African Constitution, which he rightly pointed out affirms freedom of expression, which includes the singing of this song."

What you need to know about Ramaphosa's visit

• Ramaphosa's visit included ministers in his cabinet as part of the delegation to the United States
• Kallie Kriel, AfriForum's CEO, called Ramaphosa out for calling the 49 Afrikaners who are in the United States cowards
• Trump said that he would boycott the G20 Summit in South Africa unless the government dealt with white genocide
• Malema slammed Ramaphosa's visit to the United States and called it ill-timed in light of the budget speech
• The African National Congress was excited about Ramaphosa's visit to the country and said the party was hopeful

Political parties slam Johan Rupert's inclusion in the delegation

In a related article, Briefly News reported that political parties including the African Transformation Movement and the EFF slammed Ramaphosa for including Rupert in the delegation to the United States.

ATM leader Vuyo Zungula said Rupert is the country's true leader, and the EFF stated that Rupert has captured the country's government.

Source: Briefly News