President Cyril Ramaphosa has lashed out at Afrikaner lobby group Afriforum and Solidarity, saying their campaign to spread false information about South Africa in the United States (U.S) is “unpatriotic”.
Ramaphosa made these comments on Tuesday after learning that Afriforum and Solidarity had sent representatives to meet with US government officials.
He said, “A true patriot works to fix problems in their own country, not damage it by spreading lies to other nations, hoping they will take action against their own country.”
The president blamed Afriforum and Solidarity for sparking actions that have led to negative consequences for South Africans.
His remarks followed US President Donald Trump signing an order to end the President’s Emergency Plan for Aid Relief (PEPFAR).
Trump also offered refugee status to white Afrikaners in the US due to rising tensions over South Africa’s land expropriation policy. Afriforum has claimed that “white farmers” were targets of crime in the country.
Ramaphosa said whether Afriforum and Solidarity’s actions could be considered treason should be investigated by law enforcement. He added that he was very disappointed by their actions, stating, “They are hurting our country’s reputation with misinformation, spreading racist statements when we are working to build a united nation.”
When asked about South Africa’s relationship with the US, which is its second-largest trading partner and fourth-largest investor, Ramaphosa said South Africa was actively engaging with the US through diplomatic and economic channels.
He mentioned that after the Government of National Unity was formed, South Africa visited Washington DC and met with members of Congress, business leaders, academics, and think tanks.
Ramaphosa also spoke about his phone call with Trump after the US president’s election, in which he congratulated him and reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to strengthening ties. South Africa’s Ambassador to the US, Ibrahim Rasool, continues to engage with various stakeholders to improve relations.
The president emphasized that South Africa is aware of the recent US executive orders and statements about the country. South Africa has expressed concern about the misrepresentation of the situation in the country and some of its policies. Ramaphosa assured that South Africa will continue working to correct any misunderstandings through ongoing dialogues with the US and other international partners.
Regarding sending envoys, Ramaphosa confirmed plans to send envoys to the US and other countries, as he mentioned during his State of the Nation Address. However, he added that there’s no need to send envoys to Europe since South Africa will soon host an EU summit. The country will also continue to work closely with other African nations through the African Union.
Ramaphosa concluded by saying that foreign policy decisions are the responsibility of the executive, and South Africa will continue to act in its national interest when engaging with other countries.
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