Following the US’s welcoming of 59 white Afrikaners, and confirmation from President Cyril Ramaphosa that he will hold talks with US President Donald Trump next week, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) is urging South Africans to discourage divisions that only serve to hamper the country’s progress.

Trump’s administration has granted white Afrikaners refugee status in the US, following claims that they are being targeted in acts of genocide.

Relations between the US and South Africa have been strained since early this year, with Trump ending funding for critical health programmes, owing to his disapproval of South Africa’s land policies and its case against Israel in the International Court of Justice.

Ramaphosa confirmed that he would soon hold talks with Trump to “reset the strategic relationship” between both countries.

Sacci said South Africans should work and build together and avoid distractions that drive away investment opportunities.

“We urge South Africans to not allow divisions that are not helping the country to move forward. At this time of our history, South Africans of all races and creeds should take the opportunity to unite and work together for the betterment of all our citizens and the republic, united in our diversity.

“Whilst ours is a vibrant democracy, full of vitality, and this should never be discouraged, we should also be conscious of driving negative narratives and messaging, as that is counterproductive and damages South Africa’s prospects of driving the necessary investment climate for economic growth, the elimination of poverty and unemployment and achieving the ultimate objective of shared prosperity,” it said.

Meanwhile, it pointed to South Africa’s Bill of Rights and constitutional democracy and said acts of genocide were criminal in South Africa.

As a result, Sacci urged those who believed that these constitutional rights had been violated and who had indeed been victims of alleged acts of genocide and persecution on the basis of their race to approach law enforcement for investigation and prosecution.