South Africa’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile has called out misinformation being spread about the country and extended an open invitation to former U.S. President Donald Trump to visit and see the truth for himself.
Speaking at the Africa Travel Indaba in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday, Mashatile addressed Trump’s recent claims of a so-called “genocide of white Afrikaners” in South Africa. With calm conviction, he dismissed the allegations and painted a different picture of the nation.
“There is no genocide here. We are beautiful, happy people — Black and White working and living together,” Mashatile said, stressing the country’s unity and peace.
His comments come in response to Trump’s threat to boycott the G20 Summit in South Africa later this year unless the government addresses what he alleges is a crisis of violence against white farmers. Trump claims that white South Africans are being killed and stripped of their land — statements that have drawn sharp criticism from South African leaders.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has also responded directly, saying in a recent address that he had spoken to Trump by phone to correct the narrative. “Those claims are simply not true,” Ramaphosa said, reaffirming South Africa’s commitment to social harmony.
Trump’s remarks followed the arrival of 49 Afrikaners in the U.S., who reportedly fled South Africa and are now seeking refugee status. Trump has voiced support for granting them citizenship, citing what he called a “terrible situation” back home.
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Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority and other South African leaders maintain that while the country faces challenges like any other, the idea of targeted ethnic violence against white citizens is unfounded and politically charged.
The U.S. is set to take over the G20 presidency from South Africa at the end of the year. Despite Trump’s stance, formal invitations have been extended to all G20 leaders, including him. Whether he attends remains to be seen.