JOHANNESBURG - South African Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on Friday dismissed a US claim alleging "white genocide" in the African country, calling it "unfounded and unsubstantiated misinformation."

Mchunu made the remarks in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, while releasing the crime statistics for the period of January to March 2025.

"It is claimed that there is 'white genocide' in South Africa, and as evidence, a lot of materials have been put into circulation, including in the White House, in the US," Mchunu said. "These materials include pictures of crosses along a particular road, to name a few."

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He was referring to a meeting at the White House on Wednesday, where US President Donald Trump presented South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with materials as evidence that white farmers are being systematically targeted for murder in South Africa.

"We have respect for the US as a country, and we have respect for the people in that country and for President Trump, but we have no respect for this genocide story at all. It is totally unfounded and unsubstantiated," Mchunu stressed.

"We have noted doubt expressed by media houses in the US, UK, and South Africa, and we welcome it. South Africa is a fully democratic state, with a lot of NGOs, NPOs, and free media -- they would have run headlines both locally and abroad if there was any genocide," he added.

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Mchunu specifically explained that the picture of many crosses along a dirt road, shown by Trump, was of a protest held in September 2020 near Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal Province, following the killing of a couple on their farm the previous month. "The incident sparked a very strong protest by the farming community. The crosses symbolize killings on farms over the years; they are not graves. Three suspects were arrested and sentenced for their murder, and they are in jail," he said.

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While acknowledging that crime levels in the country are high, Mchunu said the government is intensifying efforts to combat it. "The crime stats we are presenting today will show progress; we commend and encourage the South African Police Service to fight on and harder. We will win," he said.

According to him, South Africa saw significant decreases in most crime categories in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year, with decreases in murder incidents recorded in almost all provinces.

Mchunu added that a total of six farmers were killed in the first quarter of this year, with five of them being blacks.

"Let me be unequivocal: every crime that is reported in South Africa is recorded and accounted for," he said. "Together, with an informed, engaged, and responsible society, we will win this fight against crime."