'We won’t bow to imperialism': South Africa's EFF condemns Trump-Ramaphosa meeting
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has issued a strong response following a press briefing between U.S. President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in which Trump repeated discredited claims of a “white genocide” taking place in South Africa.
The EFF accused both leaders of using the meeting to discredit the party and its leader, Julius Malema, and to undermine land reform efforts in South Africa.
According to the EFF, the White House meeting—which was said to focus on diplomatic and trade relations—instead turned into a coordinated attack on Malema’s call for land expropriation without compensation.
In the meeting, Trump played a video showing white crosses and protest clips, which he claimed were proof that white South Africans were being persecuted and killed. He argued, “People are fleeing South Africa for their own safety. Their land is being confiscated, and in many cases, they’re being killed.”
Ramaphosa, who brought prominent white South Africans as part of his delegation, denied Trump’s allegations, stating, “There is just no genocide in South Africa.” However, the EFF says this denial came at the cost of justice and land reform.
EFF defends Malema and land expropriation stance
In its statement, the EFF said it was not surprised that the meeting focused on its leader and its policies.
“The meeting, which came under the pretext of discussing diplomatic, trade and economic relations, ended up being a discussion about the President and Commander in Chief of the EFF Julius Malema and his correct and principled position regarding the return of the land to African people.”
The party also criticised the composition of Ramaphosa’s delegation, which included businessman Johann Rupert, golfer Ernie Els, and Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen.
The EFF described them as “white privileged men, who have amassed wealth at the expense of African people,” and claimed the delegation “spent a majority of the time expressing their hatred of the EFF and of its leader Julius Malema.”
Trump had played several clips of Malema speaking about land redistribution, including him chanting, “Kill The Boer, Kill The Farmer.”
The EFF defended this chant in its statement, saying it was “a song that expresses the desire to destroy the system of white minority control over the resources of South Africa.” It noted that the Equality Court, Supreme Court of Appeal, and the Constitutional Court of South Africa had previously ruled the song could not be interpreted literally.
The party further accused Ramaphosa of denouncing his country’s own judiciary to please Trump.
“In an act of cowardice, Cyril Ramaphosa blatantly denounced the rulings of the courts of the country he is a President of,” the EFF said, calling the meeting “a clear collusion to prevent genuine transformation in South Africa.”
The EFF concluded by reaffirming its stance on land expropriation and constitutional democracy. “We will oppose any reversal of transformative legislation, including that which will allow for expropriation of land,” it stated.
The party described Trump’s calls for Malema’s arrest as a reaction to a revolutionary agenda and warned against compromising national sovereignty to satisfy foreign powers.
“We will defend our constitutional democracy and never bow and succumb to imperialism,” the statement read.
