Ramaphosa Calls White South African Emigrants ‘Cowards’ as US Grants Them Refugee Status
(Source: BBC)
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has sparked controversy by calling a group of 59 white South Africans who relocated to the US “cowards,” claiming they are running away from the country’s challenges instead of staying to help solve them.
Why This Is a Big Deal
- US Refugee Status: The group, mostly Afrikaners (descendants of Dutch settlers), arrived in the US on Monday after President Donald Trump granted them refugee status, claiming they faced racial persecution in South Africa. (BBC)
- Ramaphosa’s Strong Words: The South African leader dismissed their departure as a “cowardly act,” saying, “We don’t run away from our problems. When you do, you’re a coward.” He predicted they would return soon because “there’s no country like South Africa.” (BBC)
- Land Reform Tensions: The dispute stems from South Africa’s controversial land reform policies, where the government can seize white-owned farms without compensation in some cases—a move Trump and Elon Musk have called “genocide,” though experts dispute this. (BBC)
What’s Really Happening?
- US Welcomes the Group: US officials greeted the arrivals at Dulles Airport, calling them victims of “violence and terror”—a claim Ramaphosa denies, saying they “don’t fit the bill” for refugees. (BBC)
- Trump vs. Ramaphosa: The US president has threatened to boycott the G20 summit in South Africa unless the situation improves, while Ramaphosa insists the US view is “not true.” (BBC)
- Social Media Backlash: Many online critics called Ramaphosa’s remarks insulting, while others defended his stance on national unity.
The Bigger Picture
This clash highlights deep divisions over South Africa’s post-apartheid reforms and US interference in its racial politics. Will more white South Africans leave? Or will Ramaphosa’s bet that they’ll return prove true?
(Source: BBC – Full details in their original report.)
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce82e67p8p2o