Ramaphosa denounces ‘white genocide’ claims and warns against rhetoric that praises killing

President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected claims that South Africa is experiencing a “white genocide” and warned against rhetoric that normalises or praises killing, saying such language risks polarising communities and harming the country’s economic recovery.

Investment, unemployment and overseas claims

In his weekly letter to the nation reflecting on Heritage Day, Ramaphosa said the country’s economic recovery depends on attracting investment and that promoting claims of a “white genocide” overseas is damaging.

“At a time when unemployment is high, and we need to grow our economy and attract investment, travelling to foreign capitals to spread the falsehood of a ‘white genocide’ and discourage investment in one’s own country is neither responsible nor patriotic,” Ramaphosa said.

Defending shared heritage and constitutional values

Ramaphosa framed his remarks around Heritage Day, saying South Africa’s diverse cultures and traditions form a part of a common heritage and that the nation chose in 1994 to confront past injustices while committing to build a new, shared nation.

“Heritage is not only what we celebrate. It is also what we defend,” he said.

He emphasised that South Africa’s constitutional order is founded on non-racialism, non-sexism, equality, democracy and human dignity, and said those values must be upheld by all.

Warnings about divisive and violent language

The president cautioned against words and actions that could inflame public opinion, polarise communities or reopen historical wounds. He noted that freedom of expression carries responsibility and explicitly warned against language that glorifies killing or encourages hostility.

Ramaphosa linked that warning to the country’s security context, saying it was particularly important given South Africa’s high levels of violent crime.

Comments on related social issues

Ramaphosa also addressed several social challenges, including violence against women, xenophobia and migration. He said the country “cannot allow violence against women to define who we are” and described abuse, rape and killing of women as “a stain on our national conscience.”

“We cannot allow violence against women to define who we are,” he said. “The abuse, rape and killing of women is a stain on our national conscience. We cannot claim to be a society founded on freedom, equality and human dignity while half of our population lives in fear of violence.”

On migration, he said migration must take place within the law and that government has a responsibility to manage borders effectively.

International tensions and redress

The letter came amid ongoing tensions between South Africa and the United States over issues including race, land reform and claims involving minority groups. The IOL report noted that “US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently announced visa restrictions against foreign nationals linked by Washington to policies involving uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination and the incitement of violence against minority groups in South Africa.”

Ramaphosa defended constitutionally grounded measures of redress, saying there is “no equivalence between legitimate, constitutionally grounded measures of redress and the systematic racial oppression of apartheid.”

Call to uphold democratic values

Throughout his letter Ramaphosa urged South Africans to protect the constitutional values that unite the country and to renew daily the decision made in 1994 to build the nation together. He described that shared commitment as both heritage and responsibility.

“Every day, through our words and our deeds, we must renew the choice we made in 1994 and affirmed when we adopted our Constitution: the choice to build this country together. That is our shared heritage. It is also our shared responsibility.”