President Cyril Ramaphosa has firmly dismissed claims that a group of white South Africans heading to the United States qualify as refugees, saying they are not victims of persecution but rather unwilling to accept South Africa’s constitutional transformation.
Speaking at the 2025 Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan during a Presidential panel moderated by journalist Larry Madowo, President Ramaphosa addressed the controversial reports that 49 white South Africans are en route to the United States, reportedly to be received by former U.S. President Donald Trump under refugee status.
“We’ve raised concerns,” Ramaphosa said. “Those people do not fit the definition of a refugee. Refugees flee political, religious, or economic persecution. These individuals are not being persecuted. They are leaving because they reject the changes our country is undergoing in line with our Constitution.”
He emphasized that the narrative being promoted by the group does not reflect reality on the ground in South Africa. Ramaphosa revealed that he had already addressed the issue directly with Trump in a phone call.
“I told him that what he’s heard from people who oppose transformation in South Africa is simply not true,” Ramaphosa said. “We were taught by Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo to build a united, inclusive nation, and we are continuing along that path.”
The President reiterated South Africa’s unique historical context, where European colonizers settled and remained. “We are the only country on the continent where colonizers came to stay — and we never drove them out. We chose a path of reconciliation,” he said.
Ramaphosa expressed willingness to continue the conversation with the American government, adding that he intends to meet with Trump directly to further clarify the situation.
“I believe he understood me,” Ramaphosa added, referencing the early-morning conversation. “I’ve said I’d be happy to meet him to discuss this further.”
When asked whether billionaire Elon Musk would be part of the proposed meeting, Ramaphosa responded, “Well, I don’t know. That’s for them to decide. I’ll be going with my South African delegation.”
The Africa CEO Forum is the continent’s premier gathering for business and political leaders, bringing together CEOs of major African and multinational companies, heads of state, ministers, and financial sector representatives. President Ramaphosa was accompanied by South Africa’s Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, and Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.