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Tensions between South Africa and the United States continue to spiral after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Julius Malema and the EFF for chanting “Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer” at the Sharpeville Massacre commemoration on Friday.
Rubio warned that Afrikaners facing violence in South Africa would be welcomed in the US—a move that has further strained relations between the two nations.
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Rubio, Trump, and Musk Weigh In on Malema’s Chant
Rubio took to social media on Monday, calling the chant an incitement to violence and urging South African leaders to act. His remarks come as the US tightens its immigration policies, revoking legal status for over 530,000 refugees from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, while simultaneously offering protection to Afrikaners.
“South Africa’s leaders and politicians must take action to protect Afrikaner and other disfavored minorities,” Rubio posted on X. “The United States is proud to offer those individuals who qualify for admission to our nation amid this continued horrible threat of violence.”
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US President Donald Trump also weighed in, sharing a screenshot of Elon Musk’s tweet, which claimed that Malema and the EFF were actively promoting white genocide. AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel thanked Trump for acknowledging the issue, accusing South African leaders of failing to condemn the EFF’s chant.
Trump Suspends Aid, Offers Refugee Status to Afrikaners
The latest diplomatic fallout follows Trump’s decision to suspend financial aid to South Africa and extend refugee status to Afrikaners, citing concerns over land expropriation and discrimination. This move came in response to President Cyril Ramaphosa signing the Expropriation Act, which allows the government to seize land for public purposes.
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Trump has been vocal in his opposition to South Africa’s expropriation policies, arguing that they unfairly target the white minority and foster economic instability. He has also accused Ramaphosa’s government of fuelling racial divisions.
Ramaphosa Hits Back at “False Narratives” Amid High Tensions
The South African government has rejected claims that Afrikaners are under threat, with Ramaphosa dismissing what he called a “false narrative” aimed at sowing division.
“We should challenge the completely false narrative that our country is a place in which people of a certain race or culture are being targeted for persecution,” he said.
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The diplomatic feud deepened further after former SA ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, was expelled and returned to Cape Town over the weekend. Rasool was declared persona non grata after accusing Trump’s administration of white supremacy during a webinar.
While Rasool insisted his remarks were not directed at Trump personally, the US government took swift action, signaling the growing rift between the two nations.
With tensions at an all-time high, the fallout from Malema’s chant, the US’s stance on Afrikaner refugees, and land expropriation policies are likely to shape US-South Africa relations for years to come.
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