White genocide claim takes centre stage

Video clips of Malema singing 'Kill the boer' shown

- MANYANE MANYANE and SIMON MAJADIBODU

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump glossed over discussions on foreign direct investment in his discussions with President Cyril Ramaphosa in Washington last night, instead focusing on his repeated claims that white South African farmers were victims of genocide in South Africa.

Trump appeared to have ambushed Ramaphosa by playing a series of video clips of EFF leader Julius Malema singing "Kill the Boer" and other songs related to the killing of white people.

"Now, this is very bad," said Trump, pointing to white crosses in another clip, which he said signified the deaths of white farmers.

"It is a terrible sight. I have never seen anything like this," he said.

Prior to Trump asking for the montage of video clips to be played, Ramaphosa said that he would allow, in a separate meeting, his delegation which included billionaire and founder of Remgro, Johann Rupert and golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, to explain in their own words that the idea of a white genocide in South Africa was a myth.

Ramaphosa was joined by International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, Minister of Agriculture and DA leader John Steenhuisen, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau and Cosatu President Zingiswa Losi.

Ramaphosa was trying to dismiss the allegations of a white genocide when Trump interjected, saying while he heard what Ramaphosa was saying, his administration was being inundated with the rhetoric of white people being killed in South Africa.