Campaigners plant thousands of crosses for slain South Africans as ambassador denies white genocide

Campaigners in Washington DC have planted thousands of white crosses on the national mall to remember commemorate victims of "farm attacks". Italian influencer and campaigner Lorenzo Caccialupi told GB News he visited the country seven months ago and saw discrimination against white Afrikaners with his own eyes. He said: "I saw white Christian children being kicked out from school and organisations that were helping them. "I spoke with survivors of this farm attack. I spoke with people who have lost their family, their family members." TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say He added: "I heard stories of 18-year-old teenagers having to defend their farm and the risk in their own life, because on the other side, there was no one helping them." But, in a fresh interview with the BBC, South Africa's ambassador to Washington, Roelf Meyer, has denied assertions of a genocide against white Afrikaners. "I'm an Afrikaner from South Africa myself. I've never experienced something of that kind," he told the public service broadcaster. Last year, Donald Trump accused the country of waging genocide against Afrikaners in a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as he announced a refugee pathway for those affected. Through the first 10 months of the 2026 fiscal year, the US has admitted 10, 258 refugees. All but three were South African, according to analysis from the Pew Research Centre. Jade Warwick, host of the Warwick Report, a conservative podcast, told GB News white Afrikaners were "true asylum seekers". "If they are left in South Africa, they most likely will be murdered due to the color of their skin," she said. The US plans to admit up to 17,5000 more white Afrikaners as refugees over the next 12 months, a notice sent to Congress on Tuesday revealed. In a statement issued to the BBC, a White House spokeswoman said: "President Trump has provided a lifeline for Afrikaners, who are being raped, maimed, killed and driven off their property across South Africa. ### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS - South Africans fleeing from 'white genocide' forced to leave beloved pets at home - Eleven people killed including pregnant woman in house party shooting in South Africa - Anti-immigration protests erupt across South Africa as thousands line the streets demanding deportations "While the South African government and many in the media have brushed off the horrific lived experiences of this community, the Trump administration continues to process applications for refugee status because the president has a humanitarian heart." Mr Caccialupi said he came to Washington DC from Italy because there had been "silence on this topic for too long". "The media are not covering this on purpose," he told GB News. "I was called the little Mussolini just for exposing the truth." Last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio imposed visa restrictions on South Africans who promote "race-based discrimination, incite violence, or enable land confiscation without compensation in South Africa". Mr Rubio told reporters the Government had not "adequately addressed the previously laid out concerns" as he announced the plans. South African President Mr Ramaphosa has rejected allegations of white persecution, as has every political party in the country. The country's Ambassador to the US, Mr Meyer, admitted to the BBC crime was a problem in the country, but said it was a "problem all around" and not targeted at any commiunity. "It's not farm attacks only," he said. "If you look at the total picture, the huge levels of crime in the black townships of South Africa are the biggest concern, proportionally, far more than anything else." He also issued a message for the campaigners planting crosses. "It doesn't help us to raise a voice outside, if we are not committed to doing something inside the country," he said. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter