President Cyril Ramaphosa has rebutted the classification of the group of South Africans as refugees seeking resettlement in the United States.
The president spoke at the Presidential Committee of the African CEO Forum 2025, Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire on Monday.
He was asked by panel facilitator Larry Madowo about his reaction to the 49 South African “refugees” who are currently heading towards the United States and are being received by President Donald Trump’s government.
“We raised our own concerns because those who are seduced to go to the United States do not fit the definition of refugees. Refugees are those who have to leave the country due to fears of political persecution, religious persecution, or economic persecution, and they do not fit that explanation.
“The people who fled are not persecuted. They are not turned into hounds. They are not treated badly. They are leaving superficially because they don’t want to accept the changes that are happening in our country according to our constitution,” said President Ramaphosa.
He explained to President Trump that these individuals were opposed to constitutional changes and were not representing the majority.
“I had a conversation with President Trump over the phone…
“I told (President Trump) that other iconic leaders like Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo are often taught how to continue to build a unified country out of the diverse groups in South Africa,” said President Ramaphosa.
President Ramaphosa went on to explain that South Africa was the only country on the continent, and that the colonists had settled down and never been kicked out.
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“We are the only country on the continent where colonists have come to stay, and we have never driven them out of our country…” he said.
President Ramaphosa further emphasized his commitment to unity and transformation in South Africa, as former President Nelson Mandela taught him, and expressed his willingness to meet with President Trump to discuss the issue further.
“…We’re going to move forward with the implementation of constitutional architecture, and in conversations with him I thought President Trump had understood that early in the morning, in the South African era. I told him I would like to meet him so that we can discuss this issue further,” said President Ramaphosa.
He also said the US appears to misunderstand the situation, but is open to continued dialogue.
“…I think the US government has the wrong end of the stick here, but we’ll continue talking to them,” he said.
When asked if Elon Musk was part of a face-to-face meeting with the Trump administration, President Ramaphosa said, “Well, I don’t know. They will determine if Elon Musk is part of that. I’ll go to my South African delegation.”
The African CEO Forum is the leading platform for CEOs of the largest continental and multinational corporations, investors, national and government chiefs, ministers and financial institution representatives.
President Ramaphosa is accompanied by Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe and Minister of Electricity and Energy Kugosientvo Ramokgopa. -sanews.gov.za
