Durban - South Africans are not shy to back down from a debate which was once again proven on Thursday when they waded into the Tweet storm created by US President Donald Trump who took to the social media platform to say the US would be looking into South Africa's land reform policy.
Trump told his more than 53 million followers on Twitter on Thursday that he had ordered his Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo to study the ANC's decision to seize privately owned farmland without compensation and look into what he calls the "large-scale" murder of farmers.
I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers. “South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers.” @TuckerCarlson @FoxNews
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 23, 2018
This is how South Africans reacted to Trump's tweet:
I honestly don't think Tucker Carlson or the viewers of @FoxNews even understand racism. "That is literally the definition of racism." No, Tucker. No, it is literally not. https://t.co/AChvbeLZj2
— Lance Witten (@LanceTheWitten) August 23, 2018
This absolutely is not intended to undermine the very difficult time white South African farmers have. It is a problem. Fixing 40 years of a racist state is hard. But this kind of rhetoric risks security there at a time when South Africa finally has a new president after Zuma.
— lomikriel (@lomikriel) August 23, 2018
We are making progress. Will communicate with the US government and visit Washigton again in the months to follow. https://t.co/HOtk9lydYC
— Ernst Roets (@ErnstRoets) August 23, 2018
Afriforum’s hysteria and unverified stats on farm killings have caught Trump’s attention @SAgovnews @CyrilRamaphosa will now have to play ‘damage control’ in circumstances where they could have dealt with such fake news that’s not backed by stats
We wait... pic.twitter.com/bEpoMRfRTj
— Tumi Sole (@tumisole) August 23, 2018
AfriForum must be held responsible for the false propaganda they are spreading across the world. It not only has reputation damage for our country but carries economic repercussions. Their misinformation campaign must be met with distain and rejection.
— Fikile (Mr Fearfokkol) (@MbalulaFikile) August 23, 2018
Afriforum’s agenda is clear they’re only interested in their own. I’ve listened to them at neighborhood watch meetings(thats where they’re getting their support and members) old white neighbourhoods. Needless to say I left the neighborhood watch.
— Anthony Steenkamp (@Absteen1) August 23, 2018
I said it months ago, @Afriforum_net disinformation campaign is dangerous! Senseless hysteria
— Mqo (@mqondisikadube) August 23, 2018
Taking over complicated farming is not done overnight! Its something people must learn. And who will end up with those farms? Not the common folks but croonies! And when the whites leaves May we(europ) sent back the blacks who live here?
— Bert Taling (@TalingBert) August 23, 2018
Funny how Americans are so pissed off about the Russians ‘meddling’ with their issues but seem to have no problem at all directly meddling into the issues of others.
— Ungovernable (@TheGuyWaseBhayi) August 23, 2018
Instead of sending Pompeo to investigate farm murders in South Africa you should be having him address the increasing tensions between NATO and Russia. And... whatever happened to North Korea? Have they started destroying their nuclear arsenal yet?
— Rik Henriksen (@RikHenriksen) August 23, 2018
Or, you could, you know, stay in your own lane and deal with your own country's racism, lack of gun control, xenophobia, far-right tendencies, inequality, land claims, drug abuse, school shootings, neo-Nazis, homo- and trans-phobia, https://t.co/girEasygdw
— Lance Witten (@LanceTheWitten) August 23, 2018