Ramaphosa disappointed with AfriForum 'bad-mouthing their own country', regards it as 'unpatriotic'
AfriForum’s recent visit to the US has further strained relations with the world superpower as President Donald Trump last week again claimed 'bad things' were happening in the country.
President Cyril Ramaphosa answered questions in the National Assembly on 11 March 2025. Picture: Phando Jikelo/Parliament
CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa said he was hugely disappointed by the actions and misinformation peddled by civil rights group AfriForum in the United States and regarded the conduct as "unpatriotic".
AfriForum’s recent visit to the US has further strained relations with the world superpower as President Donald Trump last week again claimed "bad things" were happening in the country.
Answering questions in the National Assembly on Tuesday afternoon, Ramaphosa said he still planned to send envoys not only to the US that would set the record straight.
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President Ramaphosa said it was preferable to sort out domestic problems at home, recognising the country’s sovereignty, rather than seeking solutions abroad.
"I take a dim view, in fact, a very negative view of what has ensued as they run around the world, bad-mouthing their own country and putting their country into disrepute."
He said it was for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to determine whether AfriForum and Solidarity’s actions could be considered treasonous.
"What they are seeking to do is to spread racist statements about their own country, when we are involved in building a nation out of the throes of a very divided situation that we suffered under."
Ramaphosa said he was in regular contact with the country’s ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, on the work being done on the ground to counter the misinformation regarding the country’s laws and policies.