Written by Michael Thervil
Photographer(s) unknown
In a stunning array of irony, American President Donald Trump has issued an Executive Order to freeze foreign assistance to South Africa because of what he deems to be the mistreatment of white landowners. The question that many are asking is why didn’t the United States cut off foreign aid and assistance when white South Africans implemented and enforced an Apartheid state on Black Africans throughout the era of Apartheid in South Africa? Currently, there is no clear answer to such a question by America and nor has it even been addressed. In fact, in a press release by the South African Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, they stated the following:
“The Government of South Africa has taken note of the latest executive order issued by President Trump. It is of great concern that the foundational premise of this order lacks factual accuracy and fails to recognize South Africa’s profound and painful history of colonialism and apartheid.”
The South African Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation goes on to say:
“It is ironic that the executive order makes provision for refugee status in the US for a group in South Africa that remains amongst the most economically privileged, while vulnerable people in the US from other parts of the world are being deported and denied asylum despite real hardship.”
In response to this, President Donald Trump via Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem offered to:
"Prioritize humanitarian relief, including admission and resettlement through the United States Refugee Admissions Program, for Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination."
According to the general consensus of white Africans, they have decided to turn down President Trump’s offer for any relocation or resettlement assistance of any kind. It seems as if white South Africans rather deal with the turning of the tides in their own country than to relocate to America. President Trump's official position on the situation is that South Africa has taken an aggressive stance not only toward white South Africans in the form of a land grab and that South Africa has also taken an aggressive stance towards America and its allies.
The South African government has made attempts to reassure President Trump that his claim of white South Africans being targeted for land grabs are false and “full of distortions and misinformation”. Looking at the situation in South Africa then comparing it to the one Black Americans face in America, it seems that President Trump would be better suited dealing with the inequalities that target and plague Black Americans than worrying about what actual South Africans are doing against their former colonizers (Dutch and French).
This is given the fact that although white Africans make up roughly 7% of the population in South Africa in a population of roughly 63 million, they own an astounding 80% of the land; some estimate slightly more than that. South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa heavily defends his political decision by stating “We will not be bullied [by America]” and seems to have experienced increased support within South Africa for his decision.
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