The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have strongly criticised the recent meeting between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and former U.S. President Donald Trump, describing it as an “embarrassment” and a betrayal of South Africa’s constitutional and transformative agenda.

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The EFF said that Ramaphosa and his delegation – which included billionaire Johann Rupert, golfer Ernie Els, and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen – focused on undermining Malema and the EFF’s land reform policies.

A group of older men meet in Washington to gossip about me. No significant amount of intelligence evidence has been produced about white genocide. We will not agree to compromise our political principles on land expropriation without compensation for political expediency.

— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) May 21, 2025

The party condemned Trump for playing clips of Malema singing the controversial chant, “Kill The Boer, Kill The Farmer,” describing it as “a song that expresses the desire to destroy the system of white minority control over the resources of South Africa”. It pointed out that the chant was upheld by the Equality Court and ratified by the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court as part of African heritage and not to be taken literally.

“In an act of cowardice, Cyril Ramaphosa blatantly denounced the rulings of the courts of the country he is a President of, and this was then followed by insults from John Steenhuisen who then confirmed that they reached a pact with the African National Congress (ANC) to keep the EFF out of power,” the party’s statement read.

The party said the apparent pact was a “clear collusion to prevent genuine transformation”.

The EFF criticised Trump’s calls for Malema’s arrest over his stance on land expropriation.

The party vowed to oppose any legislation that compromises South Africa’s sovereignty or allows for foreign interests like Elon Musks’ Starlink to operate unchecked.

The EFF’s Statement on the Joint Press Briefing by Cyril Ramaphosa and Donald Trump Regarding Conditions in South Africa and CIC Julius Malema

-The EFF is proud that its legislative and political agenda, led by the President and Commander in Chief Julius Malema has shaken the… pic.twitter.com/0URc8yttGc

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) May 21, 2025