South African Crosses: Not Graves, Says Organizer After Trump's Claim
Rob Hoatson, the man behind a display of white crosses in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, has corrected Donald Trump's assertion that the memorial represents a "burial site."
The Story Behind the Crosses
The crosses were erected as a temporary roadside memorial to Glen and Vida Rafferty, a couple murdered on their farm in 2020. Two men were convicted of their murder in 2022. The memorial consisted of more than 2,500 white crosses.
Trump's Use of the Image
During a meeting at the White House, Trump showed Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African president, a video of the crosses to emphasize his belief that white farmers are being targeted. While acknowledging violence in South Africa, Ramaphosa disputed the notion of systematic killings of Afrikaners.
Hoatson's Response
Hoatson, a farmer himself, clarified that the crosses were a temporary memorial and not a permanent burial site. He also addressed the broader issue of farm murders in South Africa.
Ramaphosa's Perspective
Ramaphosa acknowledged criminality in South Africa, stating that while farm attacks were a concern, the majority of murder victims are Black. He disputed the focus solely on white victims.
Reactions to Trump's Comments
Some Afrikaner activists celebrated Trump's actions, while others criticized the exaggeration of the situation. Leading Afrikaner political columnist Pieter du Toit, said what happened was the result of "months and years of exaggeration, hyperbole and misinformation fed into the American right-wing ecosystem by a range of South African activists".