By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), has aimed to set the record straight with the latest report on the crime statistics in South Africa, presenting evidence that opposes the “White Genocide” claims made by the United States earlier this year. This has caused further tensions between South Africa and the United States.
“Our nation’s foreign policy is guided by a commitment to a rules-based international system based on international law and a respect for human rights as enshrined in our constitution…The suggestion that these crimes represent a concerted practice of racially motivated attacks as insinuated by the US report, is not borne out by the facts,” via statement released by DIRCO two days ago.
According to DIRCO, the statistics on rural safety for the fourth quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year, indicates that a total of 6 farmer related murder cases have been reported and of those 6; 3 victims were employees, 1 victim was a farm dweller and only two victims were farmers.
These figures indicate that the perpetuance of a white genocide contradicts the figures as these statistics do not represent the notion that violent crimes are affecting everyone in rural areas who lives or works on a farm.
The Department has also acknowledged that although there is great remorse and sympathy for the lives that were lost, the statistics however do not correlate with the genocidal claims made by America against South Africa.
The Department has also reaffirmed that the safety of citizens who reside in rural areas are a priority in terms of their safety; “The government continues to implement a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to rural safety. Our National Rural Safety Strategy is a priority and is implemented in police station areas that serve rural and farming communities,”
In February, 49 Afrikaner farmers fled to America because they expressed that South Africa is involved in violent crimes against Afrikaner farmers and calling it a “Genocide”.
Considering South Africa’s sensitive history surrounding violence and bloodshed based on racial politics, this has caused public uproar in South Africa as many, including the South African government have made countless efforts to express that these claims are not true.
The Trump administration has even graciously welcomed these Afrikaner Farmers upon arrival in America. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) have criticised Trump and his administration for falsely accusing South Africa for a perpetrating a genocide, while they continue to fund arms to Israel who are currently occupying Gaza; “Our government must stop obsessing over an imaginary genocide in South Africa while enabling the real and ongoing genocide in Gaza.” said the organisation.
In May, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with the company of key ministers had gone to the White House in order to de-escalate these allegations of a “White Genocide”, however Trump continued to double-down on his statements and even presented “evidence” to substantiate his claims by playing a video that contains Economic Freedom Fighters party leader Julius Malema, shouting anti-Afrikaner retoric at a rally a few years ago.
Despite this video, the South African government explained that although Malema is seen chanting “Kill the boer, kill the farmer”, that these are not representative of government policies and explained that these are merely sentiments expressed by a small party in South Africa. However, Donald Trump refused to believe.
South Africa has had back and forth tension for the past few months in regards to this as well as disagreements on the recent 30% tariff hike that America has imposed on South Africa. South Africa is currently negotiating that these rates be decreased with the Trump administration.