Protests Erupt in Pretoria Over Allegations of Racism Targeting White South Africans

PRETORIA, South Africa — On Saturday, a gathering of white South Africans assembled outside the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria to express their support for former President Donald Trump, claiming to be victims of systemic racism enforced by their own government.

The protest drew hundreds of attendees, many of whom held placards with messages like “Thank God for President Trump,” alongside various statements criticizing legislation they believe discriminates against the white minority in South Africa.

A significant portion of the demonstrators identified with the Afrikaner community, which Trump recently mentioned in an Executive Order that halted aid to the Black-led South African government. In his directive, Trump claimed that Afrikaners, who are descendants of mainly Dutch settlers, are facing discrimination due to a new law allowing the government to expropriate private land.

The South African government has dismissed the idea that the law is racially motivated, arguing that Trump’s statements are full of inaccuracies and misunderstandings.

Trump asserted that Afrikaners are losing their land under this legislation, referring to them as “racially disfavored landowners,” even though no land has actually been confiscated as a result of the law. He also suggested a plan to offer refugee status in the U.S. to Afrikaners, who represent only a small fraction of South Africa’s white population.

In a recent statement to Parliament, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized that forced evictions would no longer be tolerated, especially considering the historical injustices faced by millions of Black South Africans during apartheid and colonial rule.

“The citizens of this nation are well aware of the trauma caused by forced removals,” Ramaphosa noted. He clarified that the land expropriation law does not allow for arbitrary land grabs and is designed solely for the equitable redistribution of land for the public’s benefit.

The Trump administration’s criticisms and punitive actions regarding South Africa have spotlighted a longstanding dilemma: how to address the injustices that arose from decades of white minority rule that marginalized the Black majority.

According to government sources, the land reform initiative aims to correct the disproportionate ownership of farmland, where the white minority—comprising only 7% of the national population—holds the majority of the land.

During Saturday’s protests, participants not only raised concerns about the expropriation law but also expressed dissatisfaction with affirmative action initiatives, known as Black Economic Empowerment, which have been in place since the end of apartheid in 1994 to enhance opportunities for Black South Africans. These policies have led to frustration among certain segments of the white population.

Elon Musk, a notable adviser to Trump who grew up in South Africa, has also criticized the South African government, calling it anti-white. However, his motives have been questioned, particularly after he recently failed to obtain a license for his Starlink satellite internet service in South Africa due to not meeting the country’s affirmative action requirements.

While racial dynamics have historically influenced South African politics, the country has made considerable progress in reconciling its diverse population in the post-apartheid era. The current government is a coalition of ten political parties, both Black and white, working together toward a shared vision for the nation.

—Imray reported from Cape Town, South Africa