Civil rights group Solidarity has turned heads after erecting a massive billboard along Johannesburg’s M1 highway.
The sign, which read “Welcome to South Africa – the most race-regulated country in the world”, has since been taken down.
Solidarity says the billboard was intended to highlight South Africa’s race-based policies to world leaders ahead of the G20 Summit, set to take place in Johannesburg from Saturday, 22 November, to Sunday, 23 November.
SOLIDARITY SIGN REMOVED
Reacting to the display, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi took to X to share images of billboards erected by both Solidarity and the Democratic Alliance (DA). The DA recently unveiled its own sign calling for Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) to be scrapped.
Lesufi shared that the banner had been removed from the M1.
“Racists are loud and clear! They hate transformation and are busy vulgarising our efforts to build an all-inclusive country that recognises the injustices of apartheid. We must defeat them. To do that, we must bury our petty differences and unite the like minds and push them back,” Lesufi shared.
Solidarity then responded to the removal, saying that legal action is imminent. “Help spread the message: Lesufi’s foot soldiers have vandalised Solidarity’s banner on the M1 highway,” said the group.
Solidarity also shared on social media that the African National Congress (ANC) led Johannesburg City Council “removed and damaged” the signage. Citing “incitement” by Lesufi, the group shared that ANC wants to hide its message from the G20 Summit and the world.
G20 CONTROVERSY
The controversy follows remarks by United States President Donald Trump, who accused South Africa of promoting “white genocide” and announced he would skip the G20 Summit. Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump shared that no US government officials would attend the event.
Responding to the claims, the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation said Trump’s allegations of persecution are not supported by evidence.
