Solutions for Afrikaners’ concerns won’t come from the US: Mbeki

Former President Thabo Mbeki has again emphasised a need for the South African government to engage the US administration with the aim of improving relations.

The former President says the Afrikaaners who have issued to raise must know solutions will not come from the United States of America.

This as relations between South Africa and the US continue to deteriorate – with Trump cutting off all funding to the country – lamenting what he terms racist laws.

International Women’s Day | Former president Thabo Mbeki addresses the gathering

FW de Klerk Foundation

Meanwhile, the FW de Klerk Foundation has expressed shock at US President Donald Trump’s repeated offer that any farmer with family from South Africa seeking to flee the country for reasons of safety will be invited to the US with a rapid pathway to citizenship.

The Foundation’s Executive Director, Christo van der Rheede, warns that farmers are being used for cheap politicking.

“Of late, we have seen Donald Trump, premises his announcements and executive orders- based on misinformation, based on misconstruing the challenges of South Africa- and the challenges that we face are not limited just to white people. All of us are affected by crime, by unemployment, and by ill-conceived policies- especially economic policies- and the many other challenges that we face. That’s why I’ve said this is very dangerous; it’s cheap politicking, and it will cause great harm to the South African economy – and the South African agricultural fraternity. We don’t need this.”