Pro-Trump Afrikaners picket in support of an executive order by US President Donald Trump, granting Afrikaners refugee status in the U.S., outside the US Embassy in Pretoria. Image AP.
(The Post news)– Following President Donald Trump’s criticism of South Africa’s treatment of white South Africans, about 1,200 Afrikaners rallied outside the US Embassy in Pretoria on Saturday to show support for Trump. The rally, which was called “Make South Africa Great Again,” was prompted by the remarks made by Trump regarding South Africa’s land expropriation policies, which he claimed unfairly target white citizens.
Trump’s assertions regarding land expropriation, however, have been called into question. According to News24, Afrikaners and white-owned land are not the exclusive targets of South Africa’s new Expropriation Act. Although there is no express targeting of any racial group and no provision requiring such measures, the law permits land to be expropriated without compensation in specific situations.
Under the leadership of Willem Petzer, the protesters filed a 26-page statement expressing their grievances. The Expropriation Act, South Africa’s affirmative action practices, and the persistent problem of farm murders, which they claim disproportionately impact white farmers, were all attacked in the document. According to reports, the group also turned over a petition that had over 138,000 signatures.
Participants in the demonstration sung “Die Stem,” the nation’s old national anthem during the apartheid era, as well as South Africa’s present national anthem. Protesters held signs that said things like “We are the rightful owners,” “Self-determination is the way forward,” and “Recognise the white nation.”
In response to the petition, the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria issued a statement on social media, acknowledging receipt of the memorandum. The embassy said the petition, addressed to President Trump, would be sent to the US President and Secretary of State for review.
Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the protest and Trump’s comments during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on 6 February 2025. Ramaphosa rejected Trump’s intervention, reaffirming South Africa’s sovereignty. “We are witnessing the rise of nationalism, protectionism, and the pursuit of narrow interests,” Ramaphosa said, emphasising that South Africa would not be “bullied.”
A long-standing issue in South Africa regarding efforts to right the wrongs of decades of white minority rule that oppressed the Black majority has been brought to light by the Trump administration’s criticism and punishment of the country
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