At the African CEO Forum, Ramaphosa challenged misinformation about white Afrikaner migration, asserting that South Africa’s reforms are constitutional, inclusive, and not cause for refugee status or persecution claims.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Newspapers
President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected claims that white Afrikaners leaving South Africa for the United States are legitimate refugees.
Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum, Ramaphosa addressed recent reports that 49 white South Africans are being welcomed to the United States (US) under refugee status, with backing from the Donald Trump administration.
“We’ve raised our own concern because those people who are being enticed to go to the United States do not fit the definition of a refugee,” Ramaphosa said.
“A refugee is someone who has to leave their country out of fear of political persecution, religious persecution, or economic persecution.”
He emphasised that those leaving are not being persecuted in South Africa.
“They are not being, you know, hounded. They are not being treated badly. They are leaving ostensibly because they don’t want to embrace the changes that are taking place in our country in accordance with our constitution,” he stated.
Ramaphosa revealed he had a direct phone conversation with US President Donald Trump, during which he countered narratives presented by what he called “a fringe grouping” opposed to transformation in South Africa.
“I said, President, what you’ve been told by those people who are opposed to transformation back home in South Africa is not true,” Ramaphosa said.
“We were well taught by Nelson Mandela and other iconic leaders like Oliver Tambo on how to continue to build a united nation out of the diverse groupings that we have.”
Highlighting South Africa’s unique historical context, Ramaphosa noted: “We’re the only country on the continent where the colonisers came to stay and we have never driven them out of our country. So they are staying and they’re making great progress.”
The president asserted that those leaving represent a “fringe grouping that does not have a lot of support,” and reassured that transformation would continue under South Africa’s constitutional order.
“I said to him, I would never support apartheid-style policies. I learned at the feet of Nelson Mandela, and we intend to proceed with the implementation of our constitutional architecture,'' he said.
Ramaphosa added that while the American government “got the wrong end of the stick,” South Africa would continue engaging with US officials to clarify the matter.
hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za
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