Over thousand supporters rally outside US Embassy in Pretoria for Donald Trump
Over thousand supporters rally outside US Embassy in Pretoria for Donald Trump! Approximately 1,200 people gathered outside the US embassy in Pretoria on Saturday to show their support for US President Donald Trump after he criticized the “unjust” treatment of white South Africans. The demonstration focused on recent concerns over land expropriation laws and farm murders in South Africa, which Trump previously condemned.
Rally Highlights Trump’s Support
Many of those present at the rally expressed gratitude to Trump for bringing attention to issues affecting the Afrikaner community, a group descended from Dutch settlers.
Walter Wobben, a 52-year-old cattle farmer from the Western Cape, praised Trump’s actions. “It’s the first time we’ve seen in my lifetime that a foreign president stands up for the Afrikaner people,” said Wobben.
He distributed red caps emblazoned with “Make Afrikaners Great Again,” a nod to Trump’s well-known campaign slogan. Attendees included bikers in black leather jackets, rugby fans donning Bulls jerseys, and farmers wearing traditional beige shirts, shorts, and leather boots.
Over thousand supporters
Personal Stories of Violence
Wobben shared a personal account to highlight the dangers faced by some farmers. “Less than 100 kilometers from here, my uncle and aunt were brutally attacked,” he recounted.
His uncle succumbed to his injuries after spending three weeks in emergency care, and his aunt, now wheelchair-bound, suffers from brain damage.
“These were two elderly people in their 80s,” Wobben added, emphasizing the vulnerability of older farmers in rural areas.
Concerns Over South Africa’s High Crime Rate
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates globally, with nearly 28,000 murders recorded from February 2023 to February 2024, according to police statistics. Many of the rally’s participants expressed frustration that farm murders did not receive specific attention in the national discourse.
“There are so many other things happening in South Africa, but nobody gives specific attention to farm killings,” said 64-year-old Rose Basson, a former psychologist turned chess teacher.
Basson added, “No one other than Trump talks about what’s happening. They ignore it.”
Debate Over Racial Laws and Land Ownership
A significant focus of the rally was the controversy surrounding South Africa’s land expropriation policies. Since the end of apartheid in 1994, the South African government has passed laws to redistribute land to address historical injustices that stemmed from colonization and apartheid.
In 2017, government figures showed that white South Africans, who made up just over seven percent of the population, owned 72 percent of agricultural land. Efforts to redistribute land have sparked heated debates and heightened tensions between different communities.
Basson expressed concerns over racial laws, saying, “There are too many racial laws. It’s unfair and causes division.”
A Complex Historical and Political Issue
The issue of farm murders and land redistribution is a deeply complex and sensitive subject in South Africa. Advocates of land expropriation without compensation argue that it is necessary to rectify the historical dispossession of black South Africans.
However, critics, including many of the rally’s attendees, argue that the policies disproportionately target white farmers and lead to increased crime and insecurity in rural areas.
Political and International Attention
The demonstration outside the US embassy reflected not only frustration with local issues but also a desire for greater international recognition and support. Trump’s outspoken remarks resonated with many Afrikaners who feel marginalized or unsafe in the current political climate.
Supporters hope that Trump’s comments will lead to more global attention and pressure on South African authorities to address crime and violence in rural areas.
Ongoing Challenges
While the rally highlighted the struggles and fears of many Afrikaner farmers, it also underscored the ongoing tensions surrounding race, land ownership, and crime in South Africa. Moving forward, both local and international voices will likely continue to play a role in shaping the conversation about these critical issues.
For now, the rally participants have made their stance clear: they appreciate Trump’s attention to their plight and hope for more action and acknowledgment in the future.
