Trump’s Unconventional Diplomacy Sparkles in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG — South Africans have been positively receiving President Donald Trump’s critical statements during a stormy Oval Office meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa, according to analysts. The Trump-Ramaphosa meeting was described as an ‘ambush’ where Trump highlighted the alarming levels of violent crime and provided news clippings related to farm murders. This critique is resonating with many South Africans who believe Trump’s spotlight on the crisis might force Ramaphosa to address the country’s persistent crime issues more effectively.
According to police statistics, the last three months of 2024 saw 6,953 murders in South Africa, averaging 76 deaths per day. Additionally, only 12% of murder cases between 2019 and 2022 resulted in convictions. Analysts suggest that Trump’s emphasis on violent crime is a significant positive outcome from the meeting, as it highlights the government’s failure to address the growing crisis.
Frans Cronje, an analyst from the Yorktown Foundation for Freedom, noted that South Africa’s homicide rate has averaged around 40 per 100,000 residents since the end of apartheid in 1994, which is significantly higher than the global rate of approximately 4 per 100,000. He added that the government has been criticized for not taking criminal violence seriously, and external pressure from the U.S. could encourage domestic efforts to address the issue.
Analyst Max Meizlish from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies highlighted that decades of corruption have hindered South Africa’s ability to provide basic services, including a functioning police force. He mentioned that the ANC lost its national majority in the last election, indicating a growing discontent with the ruling party’s performance. Meizlish also suggested that Ramaphosa’s focus on BRICS alliances may have diverted attention from critical domestic challenges.
Zingiswa Losi, president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, echoed these sentiments during the meeting, stating that South Africa is a violent nation, with crimes affecting all communities regardless of race. She emphasized the need for collaboration between the U.S. and South Africa to tackle crime and secure investment in the country’s development.
Meanwhile, there was unexpected interest in Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite services after previously rejecting its local ownership requirements. Sources suggest that the government now sees potential in Starlink to enhance security, particularly in rural areas. However, critics remain skeptical about the government’s claims regarding the demographics of recent farm murders, which are not independently verified.
Fox News Digital reached out to the South African government for comments but received no response. Overall, the meeting has sparked a mix of hope and skepticism, with many hoping Trump’s involvement might bring meaningful change to South Africa’s deeply rooted crime problems.