US President On Julius Malema
By Thabo Mosia
In a high-stakes meeting at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump described Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema as a formidable force, stating, “That man [Julius S Malema] is going all over South Africa. That’s not a small party. That was a stadium that holds a hundred thousand people, and I hardly saw an empty seat. That’s a lot of people. That’s a lot of representation.” The remarks came during a bilateral engagement with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, where Trump played video clips of Malema chanting the controversial “Kill the Boer” slogan to support his claims of a “white genocide” in South Africa. The meeting, aimed at resetting strained U.S.-South Africa relations, exposed deep divides over land reform, trade, and geopolitical stances, while highlighting Malema’s growing influence.
A Tense Diplomatic Encounter
The meeting, attended by a diverse South African delegation including Democratic Alliance (DA) leader and Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, billionaire Johann Rupert, and renowned golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, was marked by robust exchanges. Trump’s focus on Malema stemmed from his assertion that the EFF’s rhetoric fuels violence against white farmers, a claim Ramaphosa and his team firmly rejected. Ramaphosa countered, “There is no genocide in South Africa. Crime affects all South Africans, not just white farmers, and is driven by poverty and unemployment.” He emphasized South Africa’s commitment to constitutional democracy and non-racialism, drawing on Nelson Mandela’s legacy of dialogue to urge calm discussions.
Steenhuisen, leveraging his White House visit to advance DA objectives, told Trump, “The reason that my party, the DA, which has been in opposition for over 30 years, chose to join hands with Mr. Ramaphosa’s party was precisely to keep those people [the EFF] out of power. We cannot have those people sitting in the Union Buildings and making decisions.” He underscored the need for international support to bolster South Africa’s economy, stating, “This government needs the support of our allies to strengthen and grow our economy and shut the door forever on that rebel getting through the doors of the Union Buildings.”
Johann Rupert, South Africa’s wealthiest man, added a personal dimension, telling Trump, “I’m the biggest target of that rebel rouser number one for over 10 years, Mr. Malema. In fact, the first time I met him, he was in the Youth League with that gentleman, and look how he’s changed.” Rupert dismissed the genocide narrative, noting, “We have too many deaths, but it’s across the board, not only white farmers.” He advocated for technological assistance, such as Starlink at police stations and drones for anti-poaching, citing past bureaucratic hurdles under Malema’s predecessors. Rupert also highlighted South Africa’s broader challenges, including unemployment, illegal immigration, and gang violence in areas like the Cape Flats, urging Trump to support economic growth to curb lawlessness.
Malema’s Defiant Response
Malema, reacting to the Washington discussions, dismissed the meeting as “a group of older men meeting to gossip about me.” In a statement, he asserted, “No significant amount of intelligence evidence has been produced about white genocide. We will not agree to compromise our political principles on land expropriation without compensation for political expediency.” The EFF condemned the delegation’s composition, particularly Rupert’s inclusion, as evidence of “white privilege” dominating South Africa’s agenda. National spokesperson Sinawo Thambo declared, “The dominance of white male voices proves the EFF’s point that this delegation sought to assure Trump that South Africa’s transformation agenda can be compromised.”
The EFF’s statement further criticized Ramaphosa for denouncing South African court rulings that upheld “Kill the Boer” as a liberation chant, not a literal call to violence. “The Equality Court, Supreme Court of Appeal, and Constitutional Court ratified this decision,” Thambo said, accusing Ramaphosa of cowardice and colluding with the DA to block the EFF’s rise. The party vowed to oppose any concessions on Starlink’s regulatory requirements or transformative laws like the Expropriation Act, warning, “We will defend our constitutional democracy and never bow to imperialism. Dhubula iBhulu! Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer!”
Trade and Investment: The Core Agenda
Despite the heated exchanges over Malema and land reform, the meeting’s primary goal was to strengthen U.S.-South Africa trade ties. The United States is South Africa’s second-largest trading partner, with over $20 billion in annual trade. Ramaphosa’s delegation, including Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau, proposed a framework agreement to enhance trade and investment. Tau highlighted South Africa’s interest in procuring liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the U.S. and expanding agricultural exports, which currently exceed $1 billion annually. “We’ve submitted a revised proposal addressing tariffs, digital trade, and the Southern African Customs Union,” Tau said, noting that 77% of U.S. imports from South Africa are tariff-free.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which facilitates duty-free exports to the U.S., was a focal point. With its renewal uncertain, Ramaphosa emphasized South Africa’s desire to remain in AGOA but readiness to negotiate alternatives. “If the Trump administration moves away from AGOA, we’ll table a new trade framework,” he said. The delegation also discussed critical minerals, with South Africa supplying nine of the U.S.’s 12 critical minerals, including helium and lithium. A recent U.S. investment in a South African helium beneficiation project underscored growing economic ties.
Geopolitical Tensions and the G20
Geopolitical differences, particularly South Africa’s stance on Israel, loomed large. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, conditioned improved U.S.-South Africa relations on Pretoria reconsidering its International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel for alleged genocide in Gaza. “Their stance is firmly aligned with one side, raising concerns about foreign influence, especially from Iran,” Rubio said, echoing Senator Ted Cruz’s criticisms of South Africa’s pivot toward China and alleged corruption ties to Iran.
Ramaphosa sidestepped direct discussion of the ICJ case during lunch, focusing instead on peacebuilding. He praised Trump’s efforts in mediating conflicts, such as the Rwanda-DRC peace process, and reaffirmed South Africa’s role in facilitating dialogue between Russia and Ukraine. “We’re one of the few countries speaking to both sides,” Ramaphosa said, noting exchanges on prisoners and children. He also urged Trump to attend the G20 summit in South Africa in November, where the U.S. is set to assume the presidency. “I don’t want to hand over the G20 presidency to an empty chair,” Ramaphosa quipped, expressing hope for U.S. re-engagement.
The Afrikaner Refugee Controversy
The meeting occurred against the backdrop of Trump’s controversial decision to grant refugee status to 59 white Afrikaners, with 49 arriving in the U.S. on 11 May 2025. Trump justified the move by alleging a “genocide” against white farmers, a claim amplified by Elon Musk’s X posts accusing the ANC of promoting violence via “Kill the Boer.” Ramaphosa and International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola dismissed these allegations, citing crime statistics showing most victims are young Black men in urban areas. “Farm murders are less than 1% of our 27,000 annual homicides,” Lamola said, noting no credible international human rights reports corroborate the genocide narrative.
The Episcopal Church’s refusal to resettle these Afrikaners, citing its commitment to racial justice, drew White House criticism. Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly claimed the church’s decision questioned its “humanitarian commitment,” while Trump insisted the Afrikaners faced “unspeakable horrors.” South African MPs, including the EFF’s Poppy Mailola and the UDM’s Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, condemned the group’s refugee status, with Mailola calling for their citizenship revocation and Kwankwa labeling them as fleeing “a South Africa striving for justice.”
Starlink and Elon Musk’s Role
Elon Musk’s influence was a contentious undercurrent. Reports surfaced that South Africa might offer a workaround for Starlink’s compliance with Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) laws, which require 30% local ownership. Communications Minister Solly Malatsi’s draft policy on “equity equivalents” aims to attract investment, but the EFF vowed to block any Starlink deal, with Thambo warning, “Our sovereignty is not for sale to billionaires.” During lunch, Musk briefly raised Tesla’s interest in entering South Africa, but tariff discussions were deferred to future talks between Tau and U.S. Commerce Secretary.
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