'There is no genocide or expropriation of farms without compensation'

1 Views

The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has dismissed claims of a white genocide in South Africa, coinciding with President Cyril Ramaphosa‘s visit to meet US President Donald Trump.

In February, the Trump administration granted refugee status to several Afrikaners from South Africa, with the first group arriving in the US last month and receiving a warm welcome from officials in Washington DC.

John Steenhuisen rubbishes the claim of white genocide

In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Steenhuisen emphasised that South Africa should prioritise rebuilding its relationship with the United States.

“We have to avoid it at all cost the 30% tariffs. It will make South African agricultural products absolutely unaffordable and uncompetitive in that market.

“It is a good opportunity for President Cyril Ramaphosa to dispel the misinformation about South Africa. There is no genocide, there’s no expropriation of farms without compensation in South Africa,” Steenhuisen said.

“Yes, we have issues with crime and criminality but these affect all our citizens in the same way and so what we need to do is to make sure that when important trading partners like the USA are making decisions about their outlook, their trade and positioning, they are making it based on the facts and not the fiction.”

The Democratic Alliance (DA) leader believes the 49 Afrikaners who left SA for America made a mistake.

“We can’t determine where people live and what their life choices are. I think they’ve made a mistake,” Steenhuisen said.

“We are on the cusp of great things in South Africa with a new government, new energy and new growth initiatives. I think South Africa will start to take off in a major way and become the envy of the world.”