Austrian president says suggestions that white South Africans' human rights being violated 'absolute nonsense'
Van der Bellen has just wrapped up a joint media briefing at the Union Building in Pretoria with his counterpart, President Cyril Ramaphosa.
an der Bellen, President of the Federal Republic of Austria Alexander van der Bellen being welcomed into South Africa on 4 July 2025 by Small Business Development Minister, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams. Picture: GCIS
JOHANNESBURG - Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen has described as "absolute nonsense" suggestions that there are human rights violations against white people in South Africa.
Van der Bellen has just wrapped up a joint media briefing at the Union Building in Pretoria with his counterpart, President Cyril Ramaphosa.
READ: Federal President of Austria Van der Bellen arrives in SA for 4-day visit
During the media briefing, an Austrian journalist asked President Van der Bellen about concerns raised back home around his visit to South Africa.
The journalist said that opposition parties had questioned why he was visiting a country with human rights violations against minorities.
Speaking through an interpreter, van der Bellen gave this short answer.
"Yes, we discussed that it is absolute nonsense. If you can please communicate that to colleagues in the Freedom Party [of Austria]."
President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated that there was no white genocide in South Africa and that that message was being pushed by groups who want to paint the country in a negative light.