Trump said the US will not attend the G20 summit in South Africa over widely discredited claims that white people are being persecuted in the country. The US president said it was a “total disgrace” that South Africa is hosting the meeting, where leaders from the world’s largest economies will gather in Johannesburg later this month.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said it had noted the content of President Trump’s post and reiterated government’s consistent position on the matter.

“The South African government wishes to state, for the record, that the characterisation of Afrikaners as an exclusively white group is ahistorical. Furthermore, the claim that this community faces persecution is not substantiated by fact,” DIRCO said.

DIRCO said the country’s position on this matter remains consistent with its previous statements, referencing a series of official responses released previously concerning misrepresentations of race relations and farm-related crime in South Africa.

The department provided links to four previous statements addressing similar claims, including responses to the United States’ Special Refugee Programme and other official US communications. These statements, DIRCO said, set the record straight on farm crime and human rights practices in South Africa.

DIRCO’s latest statement follows a Truth Social post by President Trump, in which he alleged that Afrikaners, whom he described as a persecuted white minority, were being targeted in South Africa. The post has drawn criticism both locally and internationally for misrepresenting the country’s social dynamics.

The South African government emphasised that its focus remains on building unity and promoting social cohesion, noting that the country’s transformation from a history of racial division to a constitutional democracy stands as a global example of reconciliation and inclusion.

“Against this backdrop, South Africa’s focus remains on its positive global contributions. Drawing on our own journey from racial and ethnic division to democracy, our nation is uniquely positioned to champion within the G20 a future of genuine solidarity, where shared prosperity bridges deep inequalities. We look forward to hosting a successful G20 Leaders’ Summit,” the statement said.

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“The South African Government wishes to set the record straight on this matter and to clarify what we believe is an inaccurate and distorted account of the facts,” DIRCO said in a recent statement.

This is after the report published by the United States Department of State last month claimed that South Africa’s human rights situation has significantly worsened over the past year.

It noted concerns regarding the signing of the Expropriation Bill, which was described as a troubling step toward land expropriation affecting White Afrikaners and further abuses against racial minorities in the country.

In January this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa promulgated the Expropriation Act 13 of 2024 which states that property may not be expropriated arbitrarily or for a purpose other than a public purpose or in the public interest and subject to just and equitable compensation.

The report criticises the South African government for its alleged mistreatment of Afrikaner farmers, highlighting significant human rights issues. It claims it has credible reports of arbitrary or unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests or detentions, and the repression of racial minorities.

However, DIRCO said the 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 the Constitution.

“It is within this framework that we address all forms of crime, which remain a significant challenge for all of our citizens, regardless of race or location. 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.”

The department has since cited the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) official statistics on rural safety for the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year from 1 January to 31 March 2025, which they believe demonstrate this reality.

According to the figures, a total of six murder cases were reported in farming communities.

The department stated that the breakdown of the victims reveals that these crimes are not targeted against a single racial group, which includes three victims who were employees, two farmers and one victim who was a farm dweller.

“These figures underscore that violent crime in rural areas affects everyone who lives and works on farms and related rural areas. While the loss of any life is a tragedy, these statistics do not reveal a pattern of action driven by inflammatory racial rhetoric against a specific community.”

National Rural Safety Strategy

The government said it 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.”

By the end of the fourth quarter of 2024/25, the department said the country reported that 893 out of 900 identified rural police stations (99%) had fully implemented the strategy.

This initiative focuses on enhancing police capacity and fostering community involvement with key stakeholders, including traditional leaders.

In addition, the programme involves commercial farmers’ associations, including the African Farmers Association of South Africa and the National African Farmers’ Union, Agri-SA and its provincial structures and the Transvaal Agricultural Union (TAUSA).

They also involve labour unions like the Food and Allied Workers Union and organisations advocating for the rights of farm workers and interest groups like AfriForum, South African Agricultural Research Institute and Stop Attacks and Farm Murders.

Government is also actively strengthening public-private partnerships through initiatives like the Eyes and Ears (E2) programme, coordinated with Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA).

According to the department, this initiative leverages the private security industry’s technological and logistical capabilities to enhance the situational awareness of the SAPS and improve response to rural crime.

“South Africa remains committed to a transparent and collaborative approach to addressing crime.

“We stand ready to engage with any nation on matters of mutual interest through established diplomatic channels, and we will continue to provide accurate, data-driven information to counter any misrepresentations of our domestic situation. There is a focus on the safety and security of all South Africans.”

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“South Africa has raised concerns with the Kingdom of Eswatini following confirmation by the acting spokesperson of the Government, Mrs Thabile Mdluli, that a group of dangerous criminals of various nationalities landed in Eswatini after being transported from the United States of America on a special flight with the potential of more criminals of this profile to follow,” the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said.

The department said that the arrival of this group of five men was accompanied by a notification from the United States Department of Homeland Security that this group, consisting of individuals from several countries, includes some who have been convicted of serious offenses and crimes and have been deported from the United States and have now arrived in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Reports indicate that these criminals were deported to Eswatini after attempts to send the men from Laos, Cuba, Jamaica, Vietnam, and Yemen back to their own countries were rejected.

“DIRCO, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of South Africa, noted the aforementioned statement wherein Eswatini and the United States indicated that they would collaborate with the International Organisation for Migration to facilitate the transit of these inmates to their countries of origin.

“DIRCO also noted that the countries of origin of these deportees are unlikely to receive them,” the statement read.

While respecting the decision of the Government of Eswatini, South Africa expressed deep concern about “the profile of these individuals and the potential adverse impact on South Africa’s national security and immigration policy, given the geographical proximity between the two sisterly countries”.

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A silver necklace saved a man’s life, when a bullet aimed at him got lodged in it.

“We’d say he really dodged a bullet– but in reality, he lodged a bullet. This silver chain- approximately ten millimetres in width- is likely the only reason the victim of a shooting we responded to yesterday is still alive,” the police department said in a Facebook post.

The .22 calibre bullet was fired during an argument.

“It would have ended up in the victim’s neck had it not instead become lodged in the chain he was wearing. As a result he suffered only a puncture wound. The suspect was arrested at the scene and is facing attempted homicide charges,” the police said.

The department said it was unaware of the specific metal used in the creation of the necklace.

“But it’s likely not pure silver. We looked it up and silver is soft. So, maybe think twice before you knock a knockoff.”

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