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US State Department Fires Back at South Africa’s Foreign Minister in Unprecedented Social Media Attack
The United States State Department publicly lashed out at South African International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola on Friday, posting a scathing message on X that pointed to South Africa’s 33% unemployment rate, ongoing xenophobic violence, and the controversial “Kill the Boer” chant — telling Pretoria it should “give MAGA a try.”
What Sparked the Clash?
The confrontation erupted after Lamola told Parliament that the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement actively targeted Black people and opposed the rights of women and LGBTQI+ communities.
“We know that the US, the MAGA movement, is very clear to attack black people,” Lamola said. “They stand against the human rights of women and LGBTQI communities.”
He also questioned whether members of South Africa’s opposition Democratic Alliance aligned themselves with MAGA’s ideology.
Washington’s Unusually Blunt Response
The Bureau of African Affairs fired back directly on X, in a move political analysts described as highly undiplomatic. The post read:
“Ghana and Nigeria just airlifted their citizens out of your country. Thousands of South Africans are fleeing to America to escape your government’s left-wing policies. Unemployment still remains at 33% while you and corrupt government elites get rich while promoting race-based laws and chanting ‘Kill the Boer’. If caring about your own citizens is MAGA, SA might want to give it a try.”
The statement marks a significant escalation in what has become an increasingly hostile diplomatic relationship between Pretoria and Washington under President Donald Trump.
Regional Crisis Adds Fuel to the Fire
The US post arrives amid a broader regional crisis over the treatment of foreign nationals in South Africa. This week, Ghana repatriated nearly 300 of its citizens, with over 800 more registering for voluntary evacuation flights. Nigeria has also expressed serious concern and is considering similar measures.
The South African government has repeatedly condemned xenophobic attacks and rejected claims that such violence reflects official policy.
The Afrikaner Refugee Programme
Tensions are further inflamed by Washington’s controversial decision to increase refugee admissions by 10,000 places specifically for white South Africans, particularly Afrikaners, citing alleged racially motivated persecution.
Pretoria has strongly rejected those claims as unfounded, calling the programme politically motivated.
Experts Warn of Serious Economic Consequences
Political analyst Dr Seshupo Mosala of North-West University described the Bureau’s comments as a dangerous escalation.
“It’s an escalation and it’s very undiplomatic,” Mosala said, stressing that disputes between governments are normally resolved through official diplomatic channels — not social media posts.
Mosala also warned South Africa against underestimating the stakes involved in its relationship with Washington.
“This is one of the biggest economies in the world, the most powerful nation on earth. You wouldn’t want to continuously be on their bad side, especially on the basis of your economic relations and trade relations,” he said.
What’s Next?
Minister Lamola has been holding talks with counterparts across the continent and has stated that South Africa is prepared to address the situation before the African Union.
For young Africans watching this diplomatic standoff unfold, the stakes go beyond politics — trade ties, regional stability, and continental solidarity are all on the line.
