Ntshavheni urges those unhappy with redress policies to take up Trump’s offer

February 27, 2025 56

Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says those who are unhappy with the country’s empowerment policies should take up US President Donald Trump’s offer and relocate to America as refugees.

“Those who don’t like what’s happening in South Africa have an offer. But we must emphasize that it’s not all Afrikaners, and it’s not all white people,” she said.

She was briefing the media on the resolutions of the recent Cabinet meeting.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has, on the other hand, warned AfriForum and Solidarity against sowing divisions in the country.

“I would say, we stay here, solve our problems here, embrace one another, and build our nation.”

#PresidentCyrilRamaphosa has slammed @afriforum @solidariteit
for sowing divisions in SA.

The lobby groups are in the US, seeking support to pressure the ANC to reconsider laws like the Expropriation and Bela Acts. #BelaAct #Afriforum pic.twitter.com/iVWFoP3bQZ

— Naomi Kobbie (@naomikobbie) February 27, 2025

Their remarks come amid increased calls for the government to charge the lobby groups with treason for misrepresenting the country over policies they don’t agree with. These include the Expropriation and Bela Acts.

Political analyst, Mbasa Mvenene, says, the two Afrikaner rights groups which are currently on a US tour in a bid to persuade Washington to pressure the South African government into changing the laws that are designed to redress apartheid’s oppressive policies against Black people, seem to misunderstand their mandate.

Mvenene says while it is within the groups’ right to voice their concerns, they can’t be acting like they are the state.

“They are not the government; they are simply lobby groups. They seek to influence policy, but they are not policymakers, lawmakers, or policy bearers. I think AfriForum and Solidarity’s constituencies don’t even make up 20% of the population, which shows that they cannot be seeking solutions on behalf of all South Africans.”

“South Africans are an amalgamation of ethnic groups, and our strength lies in our diversity.”

Political commentator, Goodenough Mashego, says it’s a positive step for the two groups to go to the US to attempt to extinguish the fire they started.

AfriForum hit back, saying it is President Ramaphosa and ANC leaders who are sowing divisions in the country.

.@PresidencyZA Ramaphosa falsely accuses @afriforum of sowing division, while in reality, it is he and the ANC’s leaders who are fostering division—among other things, by signing the Expropriation Act and the BELA Act, which threaten Afrikaans schools and, consequently, our… pic.twitter.com/mJpWy4nCux

— Kallie Kriel (@kalliekriel) February 27, 2025

The Economic Freedom Fighters and Defend Our Democracy have also weighed in on the debate.

While the EFF’s statement is scathing, civil rights movement – Defend Our Democracy – says although it agrees that AfriForum and Solidarity’s messaging is irresponsible, charging them with treason won’t make sense and is not in line with the country’s laws.

The EFF’s Statement on AfriForum and Solidarity’s Memorandum Submitted to Trump’s Administration to Interfere in the Domestic Affairs of South Africa

-In essence, AfriForum and Solidarity Movement are asking Trump to help them partition South Africa. 140 years after the Berlin… pic.twitter.com/2grPqHqSvK

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) February 27, 2025

Written by: Lindiwe Mpanza

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