By: Zilungile Mkhize
Prominent South African businessman Johann Rupert has appealed to former United States President Donald Trump for assistance in combating crime in South Africa, describing it as the most pressing challenge facing citizens of all races.
Rupert suggested that the United States could support South Africa through technological collaboration, specifically advocating for the deployment of Elon Musk’s innovations, such as AI-driven surveillance and data analysis systems, in local police stations to strengthen law enforcement capabilities.
Rupert is part of a high-profile South African delegation currently visiting the US, which includes internationally acclaimed golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola, Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen, and COSATU president Zingiswa Losi.
The delegation met with Trump in the Oval Office in Washington, D.C., in a bid to mend and strengthen diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries.
In response to persistent international claims regarding so-called “white genocide” in South Africa, Rupert firmly stated that crime in the country is a shared burden.
He stressed that violent crime affects both black and white South Africans, although statistically, the majority of victims are black, reflecting broader socio-economic disparities rather than racially targeted violence.
