Demonstrations Break Out in Pretoria Over Allegations of Racism Targeting White South Africans
PRETORIA, South Africa — On Saturday, a sizable gathering of white South Africans convened outside the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria to express their support for President Donald Trump, claiming they are facing systemic racism from their own government.
The protest drew hundreds of participants, many holding placards that read “Thank God for President Trump,” along with various messages condemning what they view as discriminatory policies aimed at the white minority in the country.
A significant number of those protesting identified with the Afrikaner community, which Trump recently spotlighted in an Executive Order that halted aid to the Black-led South African government. In this order, Trump claimed that Afrikaners, the descendants of mainly Dutch settlers, are experiencing discrimination due to a new law allowing the government to expropriate private land.
The South African government has dismissed the idea that this law is racially charged, asserting that Trump’s claims are filled with inaccuracies and misunderstandings.
In his remarks, Trump suggested that Afrikaners are losing their land under this legislation, labeling them as “racially disfavored landowners,” even though no land has been taken as a consequence of the law. He also proposed a plan to offer refugee status in the U.S. to Afrikaners, who make up only a fraction of South Africa’s white demographic.
During a recent address to Parliament, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized that forced evictions would not be tolerated again, citing the historical injustices endured by millions of Black South Africans during apartheid and colonial rule.
“The citizens of this nation understand the trauma of forced removals,” Ramaphosa stated. He clarified that the land expropriation law does not permit arbitrary confiscation of land and is intended solely for the fair redistribution of land for the public’s benefit.
The criticism and punitive actions from the Trump administration have brought to light a longstanding issue in South Africa: how to address the injustices rooted in centuries of governance by the white minority that marginalized the Black majority.
According to government sources, the land reform policy aims to correct the disparity where a significant portion of farmland is owned by the white minority, who represent only 7% of the national population.
The protesters on Saturday not only focused on the expropriation law but also raised concerns about affirmative action policies, known as Black Economic Empowerment, which have been in place since the end of apartheid in 1994 to enhance opportunities for Black South Africans. These policies have generated dissatisfaction among certain segments of the white community.
Elon Musk, a notable advisor to Trump who spent his early years in South Africa, has also criticized the South African government, branding it as anti-white. However, his motives have faced scrutiny, particularly following his recent inability to secure a license for his Starlink satellite internet service in South Africa due to non-compliance with the country’s affirmative action requirements.
While racial dynamics have historically influenced South African politics, the nation has made significant progress in reconciling its diverse population since the end of apartheid. The current government is a coalition of ten political parties, both Black and white, working together toward a common vision.
—Imray reported from Cape Town, South Africa
