Trump Slams South Africa at White House – Ministers Sit in Silent, Public Furious

A diplomatic trip meant to strengthen South Africa’s ties with the United States took an unexpected turn this week—leaving many back home fuming. At the heart of the controversy is a video clip now circulating widely, showing three top South African ministers sitting quietly as former U.S. President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on the country’s land reform policies.

The moment that sparked the backlash

During a high-profile meeting at the White House, Trump accused the South African government of targeting white farmers. He painted a dire picture, alleging executions and land grabs:

“You are taking people’s land away, and those people, in many cases, are being executed. They happen to be white, and most of them happen to be farmers,” Trump said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa responded by defending South Africa’s Constitution and its legal approach to land reform. But as Ramaphosa addressed Trump’s claims, his ministers—Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Ronald Lamola, and Parks Tau—remained notably silent. Not a single word. Instead, they sat watching, occasionally exchanging smiles.

Public lashes out: ‘Why were they even there?’

The silence did not go unnoticed. South Africans on social media were quick to voice their disappointment—and anger.

“Ronald Lamola is so useless… Not even a word, bro,” one user posted on X (formerly Twitter). Others called the trio “dead weight” and questioned why they bothered attending if they wouldn’t speak up.

Even more fuel was added to the fire when White House officials played footage of Julius Malema chanting “Kill the Boer” and members of the MK Party discussing radical land redistribution. Still—no response from the South African ministers.

Delegation makeup raises eyebrows

The South African delegation included business tycoon Johann Rupert, Business Unity SA’s Adrian Gore, professional golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, and even Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen—now Minister of Agriculture. Steenhuisen chose not to wade into the land reform debate either, instead focusing on South Africa’s growing crime problem.

“We have a real safety problem in South Africa. I don’t think anyone wants to candy-coat that,” Steenhuisen said.

Rupert chimed in too, urging U.S. support to fight crime and improve policing infrastructure.

Analyst offers perspective—but critics aren’t buying it

Some political commentators urged restraint before jumping to conclusions. Siyabonga Ntombela of the University of KwaZulu-Natal argued that silence might have been strategic.

“There is a proverb that says, ‘Even a fool who keeps silent will be considered wise,’” Ntombela told IOL News. “We don’t know what was agreed upon behind the scenes.”

He said ministers often play a supporting role and may have briefed the president beforehand. “If they provided the necessary background and research, they did their job.”

But for many citizens, that explanation wasn’t enough. With land reform being one of the most sensitive and misunderstood issues globally, they expected their representatives to at least counter the narrative Trump pushed—especially when inflammatory footage was shown.

Missed opportunity or careful diplomacy?

Whether the silence was a calculated move or a missed opportunity, one thing is clear: South Africans wanted to see strength and clarity from their leaders. In a moment when the country’s image was being challenged on a global stage, too many felt their representatives simply sat there—and let it happen.

{Source: IOL}

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