South Africans wanted Ramaphosa to act swiftly on AfriForum for what they described as “treason” because there was no land expropriation in the country.
Image: File Picture
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said President Cyril Ramaphosa will not meet AfriForum and Solidarity, accusing them of deliberately peddling “lies” about South Africa and its laws, particularly on the Expropriation Act.
AfriForum, a group that focuses on the interest of Afrikaners recently rejected US President Donald Trump’s offer to relocate to the US for refugee protection.
They wrote to the US claiming that land was forcefully being confiscated in the country. In their letter, they wanted Trump to also act on the ANC politicians.
“In 2018, AfriForum engaged in an international talk in which they peddle lies about South Africa. They misrepresented our country and our laws and they did so deliberately,” he said.
AfriForum and Solidarity wanted to meet Ramaphosa to address the tensions.
Magwenya said he did not understand why AfriForum wanted to meet Ramaphosa after the damage they had caused.
“Before that talk, they did not see an audience with the president, it’s not clear as to why they are seeking an audience now.
“I can categorically state now that the president will not meet with them,” he said.
AfriForum’s “peddling of lies” about the Expropriation Act resulted in Trump cutting financial aid to South Africa.
Many including the government have condemned Trump’s decision, saying he was misled and misinformed by AfriForum.
South Africans wanted Ramaphosa to act swiftly on AfriForum for what they described as “treason” because there was no land expropriation in the country.
Speaking to the SABC, Magwenya said they were still trying to engage with Trump’s administration to understand the actual issue behind his decision.
According to the spokesperson, the US knew that there were no problems in the country but they continued with their sanctions.
Meanwhile, EFF President Julius Malema told Ramaphosa in Parliament during that State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate on Tuesday that the US was using the Act to fight South Africa for defending Palestine and taking Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the atrocities against the people of Gaza.
IOL Politics