The BBC has been accused of downplaying the killings of white farmers in South Africa in its reporting.

Robert Hersov, an influential South African businessman, criticised the broadcaster as “Leftist” and “woke” in its coverage of the issue, which rejected Donald Trump’s claims of a genocide.

Mr Hersov said the broadcaster “should be disbanded”, adding: “There is no nuance in their coverage – they are just Leftist.”

It comes after Mr Trump ambushed Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African president, during their Oval Office meeting on Wednesday with footage he claimed showed white South Africans being persecuted.

The US president ordered staffers to dim the lights and play a video showcasing what he called a genocide of white farmers to his South African counterpart.

In the BBC’s analysis of the incident, headlined “Ramaphosa keeps cool during Trump’s choreographed onslaught”, it stated: “Trump was asked by a journalist about what it would take for him to be convinced that discredited claims of ‘white genocide’ in South Africa are untrue.”

An accompanying article about the incident on the BBC website explained that claims of a genocide had been limited to circulation “among Right-wing groups” and “misleading information online”.