Uproar over Donald Trump's South Africa tweet

With all the money and power that Donald Trump has, to make such an ignorant comment about South Africa is shocking. 

And it’s not the first time the US business magnate and TV personality has had something negative to say about South Africa. 

Just think back to his damning comments about the Oscar trial and Judge Masipa’s verdict last year.

Or in 2013, shortly after Nelson Mandela’s death, when he tweeted “I really like Nelson Mandela but South Africa is a crime ridden mess that is just waiting to explode-not a good situation for the people!"

Now he’s weighed in again, with this: 

As I have long been saying, South Africa is a total - and very dangerous - mess. Just watch the evening news (when not talking weather).

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 20, 2015

 

What this clearly means is that these xenophobic attacks have left some thinking that this beautiful land of ours is a mess. 

It's sad to see how the acts of a few criminals and evil people can leave such a bad impression on the international community. 

Just this morning I thought to myself - I have been to Kenya on two occasions and to three different cities (Nairobi, Malinda and Mombasa) and today I would rather not book a ticket to that destination for fear of all the terrorist attacks there. 

The media has really done a great job of keeping me far away from that country’s majestic beaches, rich culture and awesome hospitality. 

Clearly, as much as xenophobic attacks in South Africa are isolated - to the world we are all knife wielding people that stab all foreigners that walk our streets. 

What is more painful is the City Of eThekwini has worked so hard to create a great impression of this province filled with pristine beaches, rich culture and experiences in this Zulu Kingdom - but to the world we are bundled as a "mess". 

I believe we shall recover and we will once again be loved as the great South Africa we all know we are. 

(Photo: Donald Trump speaks at the First in the Nation Republican Leadership Summit earlier this month. Getty Images)