White South Africans gathered at the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria to express support for President Donald Trump and protest what they perceive as racist laws by the South African government discriminating against the white minority. The protesters, many from the Afrikaner community, referenced Trump’s recent executive order that cut aid to South Africa, claiming that Afrikaners are being targeted by a new land expropriation law. However, the South African government denies any racial ties to the law and criticizes Trump’s claims as misinformation.
President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized in a parliamentary speech that forced land removals would not be allowed in South Africa, highlighting the country’s painful history of land dispossession under apartheid and colonialism. The government defends the land law as a means to address the disproportionate land ownership by whites in a country where they make up only 7% of the population.
The Trump administration’s actions have reignited debates in South Africa over addressing the legacy of white minority rule and implementing policies to promote Black economic empowerment. Influential advisor Elon Musk has also condemned the government for being anti-white, facing criticism over his motivations. Despite ongoing racial tensions, South Africa has made strides in reconciling its diverse population post-apartheid, with a government coalition comprising both Black-led and white-led parties.
