Investigating Trump's claims that White South African farmers are victims of genocide
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
In November, President Trump announced he would permanently pause migration from all third world countries to the US after a National Guard member was killed and another wounded in Washington by an Afghan refugee. The Trump administration is expediting resettlement of white South Africans, mostly Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch settlers. President Trump claims white farmers are victims of genocide; South African government disputes this.
In rolling hills of KwaZulu-Natal Province, southeast South Africa, met Daryl Brown, 7th generation rancher and farmer.
Did you grow up knowing you would be a farmer? >> It was always in my blood. It's a calling. 10 years ago, his 82-year-old father brutally attacked on farm by robbers seeking guns and money. In 2020, Brown's friends Glenn and Vita Rafferty murdered in robbery on nearby farm. Your father was attacked. You've had friends murdered. Do you live in fear? >> I certainly live carefully. We are aware of what's happening around us. We don't take silly chances.
President Trump in May:
It's a genocide that's taking place that you people don't want to write about, but it's a terrible thing that's taking place. And uh farmers are being killed. They happen to be white. Nine days later, South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa visited White House; Elon Musk, born in South Africa and claiming genocide, present. Trump showed videos as proof of violence targeting white farmers. Excuse me, turn the lights down. >> These are burial sites right here. Burial sites. over a thousand of white farmers.
Found spot of white crosses on lonely pothole road near Daryl Brown's ranch.
It definitely wasn't a burial site. I mean, those crosses were there for less than 48 hours. It was purely an avenue of crosses that we planted there um in honor of commercial farmers in South Africa that had lost their lives. Brown placed crosses on day of Glenn and Vita Rafferty funeral; keeps them in shed. In 2024, used again for funeral of best friend Toli Nell, murdered on his farm.
Toli Nell's wife Renee lives there; husband killed in front of her fighting burglars. Son Tienus tied up while they stole cash and guns. No arrests.
My life has changed. >> I've got nothing to look forward to. Sorry. Tienus runs farm, carries weapon always except in shower. The only time I don't have it on me is when I'm in the shower. >> Really? cuz I don't ever want another situation to arise where I feel that I'm a victim. Hired private security, electric fences, cameras. Many feel can't rely on ineffective, overwhelmed police. When you heard President Trump talk about a genocide, what did you think? >> Well, I just thought he was using the wrong word. In your opinion, it's not a genocide here. >> Not what I know as a genocide. Not what I've heard of what a genocide is. I see our attack as a opportunistic attack. They knew there was money. They knew there were firearms.
Whites: 7% of population, own 72% of privately held agricultural land, many large commercial farms. Wandile Sihlobo, agricultural economist: overwhelming number of farmers and farm workers are black.
The white farmers may have a bigger part of the proportion of income, but the vast majority of people operating the farms in South Africa are black. >> There is crime on farms. There are murders on farms. They affect black farmers as well as white farmers. >> They affect black farmers as well as white farmers and also farm workers who are largely black. Nlala Lazima farmed 9-acre plot 20 years; equipment stolen routinely. In 2024, men shot at him, broke into house. Did you think at the time they were going to kill you? >> 100%. Sold farm after attack. There are a lot of black farmers that are attacked and the voices are not out. >> People don't pay attention. It's just another number, not statistics.
South Africa murder rate 7 times US; majority victims and perpetrators black. 2024: >25,000 murders; estimated 37 on farms.
37 out of 25,000. For us as farmers, that 37 is too much. Johan Kotze, head of South Africa's largest agricultural organization, Afrikaner: It's actually not about white genocide. It's about criminality in South Africa. >> That's what's happening on farms. It's what's happening in streets in Johannesburg and other major cities. It's crime. >> It's crime. The fact that it happened on a farm doesn't make me special as a farmer. It's horrendous. Any murder is horrendous. Police began publishing farm murder victims' race last year under pressure. Q1 2025: 6 farm homicides, 5 victims black.
Poverty biggest driver of crime. South Africa most economically unequal; 44% blacks in poverty vs 1% whites. Kotze visited Washington February, surprised focus:
They ask us about the white genocide and the first thing I said is our Africans is what you can get. Uh I grew up Africans and I never witnessed that.
Afrikaners (2.7 million) descend from Dutch settlers 400 years ago; celebrate culture at Voortrekker Monument, symbol of Afrikaner nationalism. 1913: millions black South Africans evicted, lost land rights by law. 1948: Afrikaners instituted apartheid, racial segregation; blacks no rights, restricted living/working. 1994: blacks vote, elect Nelson Mandela.
God bless Africa. Post-1994: progress, growing black middle class, poverty reduction. Controversial government redress efforts plagued by graft, cronyism.
White supremacists portray Afrikaners as victims of discrimination/genocide. Mainstream 2018 via Tucker Carlson:
an embattled minority of farmers, mostly African speaking, is being targeted in a wave of barbaric and horrifying murders. Trump tweeted tagging Carlson: large-scale killings, government seizing white farmers' land.
Max de Vries, Afrikaner journalist/editor:
Are there large-scale killings of farmers and is the government seizing land? >> They are. It is not happening. Donald Trump was fed this information. This link farm murders, genocide, there is no such a thing. >> Are you the victim of unjust discrimination? >> I've never been discriminated against and I'm a loudmouth citizen because I'm a journalist. So I express myself very strongly also against this inept corrupt government. Discrimination outlawed; constitution protects property rights, due process.
January last year: Parliament approved Land Expropriation Act, critics say violates constitution. Government compares to US eminent domain (buy land for public use). South Africa's allows in some cases no compensation, not just public use but redress past laws. Landowners can fight in court (years). Act not in effect, challenged by second largest party and Kallie Kriel, CEO AfriForum (Afrikaner rights group, lobbied Washington).
There is a serious threat to property rights. There is a serious threat to the lives of farmers and that needs to be recognized. Are white farmers being killed for their land? >> Yes. Um I believe so. >> Is there a white genocide going on in South Africa? >> We've never used the term white genocide. We saying there are tortures. People are being murdered. We are sing a call for genocide.
Kriel references song sung by Julius Malema, racebaiting politician wanting government seize white land:
Shoot to kill. >> Kill the poor. The farmer. >> Kill the boer. Kill the farmer. Sung 1980s/90s anti-apartheid protests; still at Malema rallies. Trump played video in Oval Office May. You know what the rhetoric is? is that we hear the same people that chant killed the work, killed the farmer, used the narratives to try and portray Africanas and farmers as thieves. >> Has any farmer had their land taken in the last 30 years of black rule here in this country without compensation or without having redressed through court? >> Because the legislation did not allow it. The new legislation allows it.
Trump cited Expropriation Act in February executive order: cut all aid to South Africa, allow resettlement of Afrikaner refugees escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination. First 59 arrived May; now almost 2,000 in US.
Did you ever imagine that virtually the only group of refugees is going to be allowed in the US would be white Africaners? >> That shows up the complete absurdity of of this Africana refugee thing because they're saying these white Africana refugees, their lives are more important than the bonafide refugees from everywhere else in the world that wants to come there. They're saying white lives are worth more than other lives. Daryl Brown won't leave: I'm an African. I've been burnt by the African sun and I'm not going anywhere. >> There's a lot of sun in Florida. >> I'm very positive about South Africa. This is my home.
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