White Genocide? Not According to South Africa’s Colorblind President

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, during a recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, declared that the ongoing violence against white farmers in his country has no racial basis.

Despite data showing white farmers are disproportionately targeted for violent crimes, including murders at a rate far exceeding other groups, Ramaphosa maintained that color plays no role in these attacks.

The South African government’s own crime statistics reveal that white farmers face a murder rate of 156 per 100,000, compared to the national average of 34 per 100,000.

“These are just crimes, not some grand racial conspiracy,” Ramaphosa said. “We don’t see color in South Africa; we see people.”

Trump presented a dossier of evidence, including reports from human rights organizations and firsthand accounts from affected farmers. He insisted the situation constitutes a targeted genocide, a claim he has repeatedly made on social media.

CNN, in its coverage, described Trump’s assertions as lacking credible backing, pointing to analyses that frame the violence as part of broader crime trends rather than racially motivated attacks.

“It’s a genocide, plain and simple,” Trump responded, flipping through pages of the dossier. “I’ve got the numbers right here, and they don’t lie.”

Ramaphosa’s remarks align with a growing trend among some global leaders to downplay racial motives in favor of universalist rhetoric. Critics argue this approach obscures systemic issues, particularly in a nation with a history of racial tension.

The South African president doubled down, suggesting that focusing on race distracts from addressing poverty and inequality, which he claimed are the true drivers of crime.

“Poverty doesn’t care about your skin,” Ramaphosa added. “It’s the real enemy we’re fighting.”

Farmers’ advocacy groups, however, dispute this framing, noting that the targeted nature of attacks—often involving extreme violence and little theft—suggests motives beyond economic desperation.

The South African Human Rights Commission has acknowledged the issue’s complexity but stopped short of labeling it genocide.

Meanwhile, social media platforms buzz with hashtags like #FarmMurders, amplifying stories of brutal assaults that rarely make international headlines.

“I’m not saying it’s not bad,” Ramaphosa clarified later. “I’m saying it’s not about white or black—it’s about crime.”

Trump, exiting the meeting, told reporters he plans to raise the issue at the United Nations, vowing to keep pressure on South Africa.

The White House has yet to confirm whether additional sanctions or diplomatic measures are under consideration.

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