Ramaphosa Calls Out ‘White Genocide’ Narrative, Slams Rhetoric That Glorifies Violence
- President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned those spreading 'white genocide' narratives overseas in his latest newsletter on 28 September 2026
- Ramaphosa warned the rhetoric could damage South Africa's ability to attract foreign investment at a critical economic moment
- The president also addressed violent language, xenophobia and gender-based violence as threats to South Africa's constitutional values
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SOUTH AFRICA — President Cyril Ramaphosa has spoken out against South Africans who travel to foreign capitals to promote claims of a "white genocide" in the country, arguing the narrative is false and damaging to the economy.
Ramaphosa made the remarks in his newsletter, published on Monday, 28 September 2026, in the aftermath of Heritage Day celebrations.
Ramaphosa tackles 'white genocide' claims
The president acknowledged that the Constitution protects freedom of expression but said that right carries responsibility.
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"At a time when unemployment is high and we need to grow our economy and attract investment," he said
He also spoke to the falsehood of a "white genocide" arguing that it actively discourages investment, which is neither responsible nor patriotic.
Ramaphosa has consistently rejected these claims. As far back as May 2025, he described the genocide narrative as false during a period of heightened tension between South Africa and the United States over the same issue.
He urged the country to guard against words and actions that polarise communities, reopen historical wounds and inflame public opinion, while reaffirming the country's core constitutional values of equality, non-racialism, democracy and human dignity.
President addresses gender-based violence
Ramaphosa also turned his attention to language that glorifies violence. In a country already contending with high levels of violent crime, he said rhetoric that encourages hostility or celebrates killing had no place in public life.
He extended this to the treatment of women, stating that abuse, rape and femicide could not be permitted to define South Africa's national character. He framed the issue as directly tied to the constitutional principle of human dignity.
Ramaphosa warns against xenophobic statements
On migration, the president said government has an obligation to manage the country's borders and that migration must occur within the law. However, he cautioned against inflammatory statements targeting foreign nationals, describing such rhetoric as dangerous and irresponsible given the existing social tensions around undocumented migration.
Ramaphosa closed by calling on South Africans to protect the country's social fabric and uphold the values enshrined in the post-1994 constitutional order, emphasising that people of different races, cultures and backgrounds must be able to coexist.
Ramaphosa slams US misinformation campaign
Previously, Briefly News reported that the president called for a family meeting on 30 November 2025 to discuss the recent Group of 20 Summit in South Africa.During his address, Ramaphosa noted the United States of America’s absence from the event over false information. Donald Trump previously stated that no US official would attend the event due to the white genocide taking place in the country. He also said South African problems should be solved by the citizens of the country themselves.
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Source: Briefly News
