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CWA # 1721, 17 June 2025
Global Politics Explainer
Who are the Afrikaners?

  Rizwana Banu S and Santhiya M

On 21 May, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met US President Trump at the White House. This meeting followed the US decision on 12 May to grant refugee status to the 59 White South Afrikaners. Ramaphosa’s visit aimed to reset the bilateral relations between the two countries. However, the meeting took a sharp turn when Trump raised the issue of white genocide in South Africa. 

Who are the Afrikaners?
Afrikaners are the descendants of Dutch and European people who arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1652. They speak Afrikaans, a language that evolved from Dutch. In 1948, South Africa was governed by the Afrikaners, who introduced discriminatory laws, such as job reservations for white people, bans on inter-racial marriage and policies that forced the black people to live in secluded areas called townships. This minority group controlled South Africa’s agricultural sector and its political landscape till 1994, when Apartheid was abolished. According to the 2022 census, South Africa has 2.5 million Afrikaners, who make up seven per cent of the total population. Despite this, they control 70 per cent of the agricultural land. Today, South Africa’s population is 62 million, out of which Black people constitute 81 per cent of the total population. Although Afrikaners still hold economic power but they have lost their political dominance.

Why are Afrikaners in the news today?
On 07 February, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order which halted the USAID to South Africa and offered refugee status to the white South Africans. This was followed by Ramaphosa’s introduction of the land expropriation bill in parliament. This law sparked debate across the Afrikaner community as it allows the government to acquire the land of any private person for the public good without compensation. Critics argued that this law was specifically targeted at Afrikaners. 

Second, the ‘genocide claim’ made by Trump. He said that a genocide was happening in South Africa against the white South African farmers, stating that they were getting brutally killed and their lands were seized. In order to resolve this issue, Ramaphosa met Trump at the white house on 21 May. During the meeting, Trump screened a video depicting thousands of burial grounds, claiming that they were the Afrikaners who had been killed. However, his claim was proved wrong later.

What is the land issue all about?
First, the land expropriation law enables the government to acquire private land for public use without compensation under specific circumstances. According to the 2017 land ownership audit, seven per cent of white South Africans own 72 per cent of the country’s farming and agricultural land, while 81.4 per cent of black South Africans own only 4 per cent. 
Second, even though this law aims to rectify the historical land ownership disparities and promote equitable access to land, it has sparked controversy. Some supporters of this law saw it as a necessary step towards justice for black South Africans. However, critics raised concerns over the property rights and the economic repercussions. This law has also drawn international attention. As Elon Musk called it a “racist ownership law.”

Why is Trump paying attention to the Afrikaner issue?
First, He claimed ‘white genocide’ was occurring in South Africa and expressed his concern over the alleged persecution of Afrikaners. He saw the Expropriation Act as a tool for violence against the Afrikaners. This strained the US-South Africa relations.  Second, South Africa’s alleged relationship with Russia, Iran and Hamas fuelled the tensions between the two countries. This finally led to the US aid cuts and tariffs, and reflected on South Africa’s economy. 
Third, South Africa was the first country to file a case against Israel in the International Court of Justice over the escalation of the Israel-Hamas war. The US did not appreciate this move as Israel is an ally of the US. Furthermore, South Africa maintained a neutral stance over the Russia-Ukraine war and increased its engagement with Iran, particularly in nuclear discussions, which the US opposes.

What is South Africa’s response to this issue?
First, the South African government rejected Trump’s 'white genocide' claim. The country's Police Minister provided statistics showing that between January and March, six farm murders occurred, of which one was a South Afrikaner. Officials have dismissed the allegations of ‘white genocide’, citing the statistics that violence affects all groups, not just Afrikaners. A South African judge also dismissed the ‘white genocide’ case as baseless. 
Second, the South African government emphasised that the Expropriation Act is a constitutional mechanism aimed at addressing the historical land inequalities and not a tool for racial persecution. It argues that the law is necessary to correct the past injustices to the black people in South Africa. 
 

References
•    Khanyisile Ngcobo, “South African president signs controversial land seizure law,” BBC, 24 January 2025
•    Farouk Chothia, “Is there a genocide of white South Africans as Trump claims?,” BBC, 24 May 2025
•    Wedaeli Chibelushi & Nomsa Maseko, “South Africa crime statistics debunk 'white genocide' claims - minister,” BBC, 24 May 2025
•    “South Africa’s Ramaphosa to visit Trump: Can they fix tricky relations?,” Al Jazeera, 19 May 2025
•    Mara Liasson, “Trump shows South Africa's Ramaphosa a video montage in tense Oval Office meeting,” NPR, 21 May 2025
•    Farouk Chothia, “Is there a genocide of white South Africans as Trump claims?,” BBC, 24 May 2025
•    Khanyisile Ngcobo, “Claims of white genocide 'not real', South African court rules,” BBC, 25 February 2025
•    C. Douglas Golden, “Fact Check: Has Elon Musk Been Banned from Operating Starlink in South Africa Because He's White?,” The Western Journal, 28 May 2025
 

About the author
Rizwana Banu S is an undergraduate student in the Department of Political Science at Madras Christian College. Currently, she is working as a Research intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies. Santhiya M is an undergraduate student in the Department of Political Science at Madras Christian College. Currently, she is working as a Research intern at the National Institute of Advanced Studies.

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