Mbalula praises Rupert, Els and Goosen for their patriotism to South Africa

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has lauded South African-born billionaire Johann Rupert and golfing legends Ernie Els and Retief Goosen for defending the country in the US this week.

They were part of a South African delegation that went to Washington, DC, to reset relations between South Africa and the Trump administration.

Led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the trio told Trump that crime is a problem that affects everyone in South Africa, including farmers.

“President Trump told us that there are people that are bad-mouthing us who are very close to him, who are his friends, who are basically white in colour,” Mbalula said.

“Yet Rupert on the other side said there is crime and that crime is black and white, it is not white. White farmers will be affected because they control the land.”

Ramaphosa’s delegation was inclusive

Ramaphosa was criticised by opposition parties for taking Rupert, Els and Goosen to his meeting with Trump.

However, Mbalula said Trump had asked for them to be in the meeting. He also described their inclusion as a strategic move by Ramaphosa.

“It was good for the president to bring people who do not only come from the political fold. We saw that there are people who love this country, patriots who spoke in the best interests of the country.

“They were prepared to stick their necks out and defend the country the way Johann Rupert did,” he said.

However, Mbalula said he had also received reliable information that a former golfing legend from South Africa is one of the people who have been speaking negatively about South Africa.

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Rupert’s appeal to Trump

During Wednesday’s meeting at the White House, Rupert indicated that South Africa needs help from the US to fight crime in communities and on farms.

“If you look at our statistics, a lot of these murders – it’s unemployment and illegal aliens. If we do not grow our economy, the culture of dependency and lawlessness will increase,” he said.

Urgency to fight farm attacks

Meanwhile, in a statement on Thursday, the DA appealed to the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, to urgently tackle crime on farms and in rural areas.

“The DA reiterates our call for urgent action to address farm murders and rural safety, which continue to threaten lives, food security, jobs and the stability of South Africa’s rural economy,” said party spokesperson Willie Aucamp.

Aucamp said the party’s leader. John Steenhuisen, who is also the minister of agriculture, is committed to fighting crime on farms.

“Irrespective of years of denial by previous governments regarding the existence and nature of farm murders, the DA — and our leader John Steenhuisen — have consistently advocated for justice and protection for South Africa’s farming communities,” he said.

He said parliament’s portfolio committee on agriculture and the portfolio committee on police have formally recognised that farm murders do happen and must be combated without delay.

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