South African Ambassador to US Refutes Trump’s Claims of White Genocide

South Africa’s newly appointed ambassador to the United States, Roelf Meyer, has rejected claims that white South Africans, particularly Afrikaners, are facing a genocide, saying the alleged mass attacks “just don’t exist.” Meyer made the comments in a BBC interview published on September 25, 2026, as he takes on the difficult task of repairing relations between South Africa and the United States.

Meyer is not speaking as an outsider. He is himself an Afrikaner and was one of the key negotiators who helped bring apartheid to an end in the 1990s. He told the BBC that when he first heard US President Donald Trump claim that white Afrikaners were facing genocide, he wondered, “Is he talking about us?”

Trump has repeatedly accused South Africa of allowing the persecution of white farmers and has described the situation as a “genocide.” His administration has consequently created a refugee pathway for Afrikaners, with almost 13,000 refugees admitted to the US over the past year, nearly all from South Africa. The administration is also planning to admit up to another 17,500 white Afrikaners.

Meyer argues that the information reaching Washington has been misrepresented. According to him, violent crime is a serious problem in South Africa, but it is not a problem targeting white people alone. He pointed to the much higher levels of crime experienced in Black townships and said the broader picture had been lost in the debate over farm attacks. He also said he had never personally experienced the kind of mass attack against Afrikaners being described by the US administration.

The BBC interview also featured white South Africans who described experiencing serious insecurity. One woman, identified publicly as Lielie, said she had lived behind walls, an electric fence and with guard dogs on her family’s farm but still felt unsafe after seeing people enter the property on several occasions. She eventually moved to Texas through the US refugee programme and said she now feels safer. Another Afrikaner, SJ Du Venage, said he believes there is a political drive to kill white people and farmers. Meyer, however, argues that these individual experiences should not be presented as evidence of a nationwide campaign to eliminate Afrikaners.

The disagreement has become much bigger than the question of farm crime.Washington has also criticised South Africa over its land reform policies and measures designed to address racial inequality left by apartheid. The US has imposed visa restrictions on South Africans it says are responsible for race-based discrimination against white people, while Pretoria has rejected the characterisation of its policies as persecution. 

Meyer says he wants Trump’s executive order underpinning the Afrikaner refugee programme revoked and believes South Africa should instead receive help from the US to tackle crime across the country.

Marrying Ghana Kente is dedicated to ensuring you have a fabulous Ghana and African wedding experience. We provide the best quality Kente for brides and grooms, Senator wears and luxurious wedding accessories. Shop now at https://mgkente.com/Use code: NAZ26 for 10% Discount 

Looking for love? Why don’t you check out our dating site https://mgdating.com/. Your heartthrob may be a click away.