Overview
- Speaking at the ANC’s National General Council on Dec. 8, President Cyril Ramaphosa urged a coordinated domestic and international effort to debunk claims that white Afrikaners are being persecuted.
- He said the propaganda fuels white supremacist notions, undermines South Africa’s unity, and poses threats to sovereignty, foreign relations, and national security.
- The remarks follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s boycott of the Johannesburg G20 over unsubstantiated allegations against South Africa’s government.
- The United States has sidelined South Africa from early 2026 G20 activities by inviting Poland to initial meetings, deepening a rift already widened by recent disputes.
- A 30% U.S. tariff on South African goods remains in place as Pretoria pursues trade talks and export diversification, while evidence shows no systematic, race-based targeting of white farmers.