Trump Misinterprets White Crosses Display in South Africa, Organizer Clarifies

Rob Hoatson, the organizer of a white crosses memorial in South Africa, corrects President Trump's assertion that the display represents a burial site for white farmers. The crosses honor the tragic deaths of Glen and Vida Rafferty and aim to highlight violence against farmers in the region rather than suggest systematic targeting of any group.

 

The man who organized a poignant display of white crosses in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, has refuted U.S. President Donald Trump's interpretation of the memorial as a burial site for white farmers. Rob Hoatson clarified that the white crosses symbolized the tragic passing of neighbors Glen and Vida Rafferty, who were murdered on their farm in 2020, rather than representing a mass grave.

During a tense meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Trump showcased a video of the crosses, asserting that they were indicative of a targeted campaign against white farmers in South Africa. "These are burial sites… over 1,000 of white farmers... those cars aren't driving, they're stopped there to pay respects to their family member who was killed," Trump declared.

Hoatson, a farmer himself, expressed no objection to the video being shared without his consent, but emphasized that Trump tends to "exaggerate." He clarified that the crosses were part of a temporary memorial, comprising over 2,500 crosses lining the road, which has since been dismantled. "It's not a burial site, but it was a memorial," he stated.

The memorial was erected in homage to Glen and Vida Rafferty, who were violently taken from their family, and two men were later convicted for their murders in 2022. While acknowledging that violence is an issue in South Africa, Ramaphosa stressed that victims of criminality encompass all races, not just white individuals.

In response to Trump's comments, some Afrikaner activists praised the president for bringing the plight of farmers onto the international stage. However, political columnist Pieter du Toit criticized this portrayal as a result of misinformation shared within right-wing circles, pointing towards a narrative driven by exaggerated claims regarding farmer murders.

In a country that grapples with significant crime rates, this situation reflects a complex intersection of race, politics, and social issues. Even though the numbers do not disclose race-based motivations for violence, they underscore the prevailing crimes affecting various communities in South Africa.