EFF leader Julius Malema rebukes Ramaphosa-Trump Oval Office meeting, dismisses white genocide claims and defends land expropriation without compensation.
Ramaphosa-Trump Meeting: South Africa’s political theatrics took a dramatic turn this week as Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema publicly slammed the recent high-profile Oval Office meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and United States President Donald Trump, calling it nothing more than “older men gossiping” about him. The meeting, held on May 21, 2025, was meant to ease diplomatic tensions between South Africa and the US—but ended up stirring a storm of controversy instead.
What Provoked the Firestorm?
At the centre of the global spotlight was a collection of videos shown by Trump during the meeting, featuring Malema singing the contentious apartheid-era song Kill the Boer, as well as footage of him advocating for land expropriation without compensation. These clips were used to question the existence of white genocide in South Africa, a narrative gaining traction in certain US right-wing circles.
In response, Malema took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to refute the entire premise of the discussion.
“A group of older men meet in Washington to gossip about me. No significant amount of intelligence evidence has been produced about white genocide,” Malema wrote.
He stood firm on the EFF’s long-held principle: land must be returned to the people, without compensation, and South Africa must not compromise this mission for international appeasement.
Context: Diplomatic Strain and Refugee Status for Afrikaners
The backdrop of the meeting was a rising diplomatic frost between Pretoria and Washington, especially over South Africa’s position on the Israel-Palestine conflict and laws like the Expropriation Act. Adding fuel to the fire, the US had recently granted refugee status to 49 Afrikaners, citing claims of racial persecution and fears of targeted attacks.
This dramatic move has triggered fierce debates on both sides of the Atlantic.
RELATED: Mandela’s Great-Grandson Tells Afrikaner ‘Victims’ to Leave SA if Unhappy with Land Justice
AfriForum and the ‘Trump Compilation’
AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel clarified that the controversial video compilation was not created by his organisation.
“I think President Trump himself made a compilation of all these videos,” Kriel told eNCA. “It was, of course, not our compilation.”
Nonetheless, Kriel criticised the South African government’s failure to explicitly condemn the Kill the Boer chant and lamented what he described as a judiciary that fails to adequately protect farmers.
Still, he welcomed the continued dialogue, saying, “From AfriForum’s side, we also want solutions… That is why we were willing to say we will discuss this with the ANC.”
Democratic Alliance Weighs In: ‘Chaotic and Difficult’
Democratic Alliance MP Emma Powell did not mince her words, labelling the Oval Office meeting as “chaotic” and “difficult.”
“We were all deeply shocked when we were suddenly shown these horrendous videos,” Powell said. “The shoot the boer, kill the boer sentiment cannot be tolerated in South Africa. It is indeed a call that is completely antithetical to our constitution.”
She praised DA leader John Steenhuisen for making it clear that Malema is not a government minister and does not speak on behalf of South Africa, saying he “rightfully explained that Julius Malema is not part of government” and does not represent the official stance.
Powell also stressed the importance of mending trade relations with the US—especially as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) faces uncertainty. With trade tariffs looming, particularly in the automotive sector, Powell said solutions must be found before the industry collapses.
Home Affairs Welcomes Tech Investment
Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber struck a more diplomatic tone, welcoming US interest in investing in South Africa’s civic technology sector.
“Let’s work together to supercharge digital reform,” Schreiber said. “We support calls for technological investment to support our drive to digitally transform civic services and immigration.”
The Bigger Picture: A Diplomatic Circus or Strategic Dialogue?
Whether this meeting will ultimately improve relations or simply deepen divides remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that Julius Malema continues to dominate international headlines—even without a seat in government.
With ANC, EFF, DA, and AfriForum all offering differing perspectives on the Trump-Ramaphosa encounter, South Africa’s political landscape once again finds itself at the intersection of ideology, diplomacy, and global perception.
As the world watches, one thing is certain: the debate over land, identity, and justice in South Africa is far from over—and Julius Malema isn’t leaving the spotlight any time soon.
Also read: Ramaphosa Responds to Trump: ‘No Genocide in South Africa, Only Doubt in His Head’
