CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Monday the claim that white people are being persecuted in his country is a “completely false narrative.” It was his latest attempt to push back against allegations made by U.S. President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and some white minority groups in South Africa.
South African-born Musk, who has regularly accused South Africa's Black-led government of being anti-white, repeated a claim this weekend in a social media post that some of the country's political figures are “actively promoting white genocide."
Ramaphosa said in his weekly message to the nation that South Africans “should not allow events beyond our shores to divide us or turn us against each other.”
“In particular, we should challenge the completely false narrative that our country is a place in which people of a certain race or culture are being targeted for persecution.”
Ramaphosa did not mention names, but his denial was a reference to the allegations by Trump and others that South Africa is deliberately mistreating a white minority group known as Afrikaners by encouraging violent attacks on their farms and introducing a law designed to seize their land.
The allegations were central to an executive order issued by Trump last month cutting funding to South Africa to punish the government, while offering Afrikaners refugee status in the U.S.
Afrikaners are descendants of mainly Dutch and French colonial settlers who first came to South Africa more than 300 years ago. They were at the heart of the apartheid government that systematically oppressed non-whites, although South Africa has been largely successful at reconciling its many racial groups after apartheid ended in 1994.
In his post on X, influential Trump adviser Musk cited a political rally last Friday in South Africa where Black leaders of a far-left opposition party sang a song that has the lyrics “Kill the Boer, the farmer.” Boer is a word that refers to an Afrikaner.
“Very few people know that there is a major political party in South Africa that is actively promoting white genocide,” Musk wrote. He linked to a video of the rally.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X late Monday that the song “is a chant that incites violence. South Africa’s leaders and politicians must take action to protect Afrikaner and other disfavored minorities. The United States is proud to offer those individuals who qualify for admission to our nation amid this continued horrible threat of violence.”
The party in question, the Economic Freedom Fighters, is the fourth biggest in Parliament and a political opponent of Ramaphosa's African National Congress. It won 9.5% of the vote in last year's national election. It has come under scrutiny for stirring racial tensions before and for singing the song, which was used during apartheid as a call to fight against government oppression.
The song's modern-day use has been criticized by some in South Africa, including by other political parties, and a group representing Afrikaners challenged its use in court. It was ruled hate speech and effectively banned by a court more than a decade ago.
But it was the subject of several other legal cases before a 2022 ruling found that it was not hate speech and protected under freedom of speech because there was no proof it incited violence. The EFF says it is a historic chant that shouldn’t be taken literally and has sometimes changed the lyrics to "kiss the Boer."
Since Trump's executive order, the South African government has sought to dispel what it says is misinformation over white farmers, who are sometimes victims of violent attacks in their homes. The government has condemned the attacks, but experts say there is no evidence of any widespread targeting of whites and they are in fact part of South Africa's extremely high violent crime rates, which affect all races.
The group representing Afrikaners says the police have sometimes undercounted farm homicides in official statistics. It recently said it had figures showing there were eight farm homicides in the three-month period between October and December last year when police only recorded one.
There were a total of 6,953 homicides across South Africa during that same time period, according to the police statistics.
Associated Press writer Mogomotsi Magome in Johannesburg contributed to this report.
AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
FILE - White South Africans demonstrate in support of U.S. President Donald Trump in front of the U.S. embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, Feb. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, right, welcomes Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, ahead of the eighth EU-South Africa summit in Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
Elon Musk attends the finals at the NCAA wrestling championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
CORAL GABLES, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 29, 2025--
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., (NYSE: FDP) one of the world’s leading vertically integrated producers, marketers, and distributors of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, is proud to announce that its Rubyglow® pineapple—the latest in its extensive lineup of pineapple innovations—was awarded Best Food Innovation by the prestigious World Food Innovation Awards 2025.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250429145381/en/
Hosted by FoodBev Media, the World Food Innovation Awards celebrate breakthrough achievements in food and beverage, recognizing products that exemplify innovation, sustainability, and consumer appeal. Selected by a panel of industry experts, Fresh Del Monte’s Rubyglow® pineapple was honored as this year’s standout winner.
A registered U.S. plant patent, the Rubyglow® pineapple is the most exclusive pineapple Fresh Del Monte has ever brought to market. It’s a cross between a traditional pineapple and the deep red–skinned Morada variety, which is typically inedible. The result: a visually stunning fruit with a deep red outer shell and citrine-yellow flesh that offers a smooth, tropical flavor with low acidity. Retailing at $395, it represents the pinnacle of luxury in fresh produce.
“The exclusive Rubyglow® pineapple underscores our global leadership in the pineapple category,” said Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fresh Del Monte. “We continuously strive to push the boundaries of agricultural innovation, and the Rubyglow® pineapple is a shining example of that commitment. We’re incredibly proud of this achievement.”
Rubyglow® pineapple joins a distinguished lineup of Fresh Del Monte pineapple innovations, including the vibrant Pinkglow® pineapple, the ultra-sweet Honeyglow® pineapple, and the climate-smart Del Monte Zero® pineapple—each developed to meet evolving consumer tastes while advancing sustainability and flavor. Together, these varieties showcase the company’s continued investment in high-value, premium fruit offerings.
The Rubyglow® pineapple took more than 15 years of R&D to develop and requires nearly two years to grow. Grown using traditional crossbreeding methods, it demands precision at every stage of cultivation. A limited seed supply and lengthy growth cycle contribute to its rarity and premium status. Since its initial launch in China—where it sold out almost instantly—the fruit has expanded into North America and Europe. Today, global demand continues to outpace supply, with waitlists forming worldwide.
Marketing Director of FoodBev Media and host of the ceremony, Daniel Bunt, emphasized the significance of this year’s awards: “This year’s World Food Innovation Awards has seen an incredible plethora of products and brands from across the international food and beverage industry. The turnout at this year’s Winners’ Ceremony is a clear indication of the industry's hunger for innovation, providing entrants into our awards with a dedicated platform to promote themselves at IFE, with an increase in engagement both online and in person.”
Fresh Del Monte invites fruit lovers, retailers, and industry partners to experience the award-winning Rubyglow® pineapple and explore how it’s redefining the luxury fruit market. For more information, please visit freshdelmonte.com/. To join the global waiting list, visit https://freshdelmonte.com/rubyglow/.
ABOUT FRESH DEL MONTE
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is one of the world’s leading vertically integrated producers, marketers, and distributors of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, as well as a leading producer and distributor of prepared food in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. markets its products worldwide under the DEL MONTE ® brand (under license from Del Monte Foods, Inc.), a symbol of product innovation, quality, freshness, and reliability for over 135 years. The company also markets its products under the MANN ® brand and other related trademarks. Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is not affiliated with certain other Del Monte companies around the world, including Del Monte Foods, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Del Monte Pacific Limited, Del Monte Canada, or Del Monte Asia Pte. Ltd. Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is the first global marketer of fruits and vegetables to commit to the “Science Based Targets” initiative. In 2022, 2023, and 2024, Fresh Del Monte Produce was ranked as one of “America’s Most Trusted Companies” by Newsweek based on an independent survey rating companies on three different touchpoints, including customer trust, investor trust, and employee trust. The company was also named a Humankind 100 Company for two consecutive years by Humankind Investments, which recognizes companies that substantially impact areas such as access to food and clean water, healthcare, and digital services. Fresh Del Monte has also been awarded the SEAL Business Sustainability Awards four times in the last five years (2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025). Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is traded on the NYSE under the symbol FDP.
Fresh Del Monte’s Rubyglow® Pineapple Named Best Food Innovation at World Food Innovation Awards 2025
