AfriForum

On 25 February 2025, a high-profile delegation comprising AfriForum, the Solidarity Movement, and Solidarity met with senior representatives of the Trump administration at the White House in Washington, D.C., to present the Washington Memorandum. The delegation, led by Solidarity Movement Chairperson Flip Buys, included AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel, Solidarity CEO Dr. Dirk Hermann, and Jaco Kleynhans, head of international liaison at the Solidarity Movement. The meeting, which took place behind closed doors, sparked significant political discourse in both South Africa and the United States.

The Washington Memorandum outlined key grievances regarding the treatment of Afrikaners in South Africa and urged the U.S. to take targeted action against ANC leaders. It also sought to reinforce the Trump administration’s recognition of Afrikaner concerns while calling for increased support for their cultural preservation. The document covered several major issues, including racial policies, human rights concerns, and South Africa’s governance under the ANC.

The Key Demands in the Washington Memorandum

The Washington Memorandum presented to U.S. officials addressed the following issues:

• Gratitude for U.S. Engagement on Afrikaner Rights
The delegation expressed appreciation for the Trump administration’s recognition of what it describes as “human rights violations” against Afrikaners and its willingness to provide assistance.
• Targeted Sanctions Against ANC Leaders
The memorandum requested that punitive measures focus specifically on ANC officials accused of corruption, human rights abuses, and ties to terrorist organizations rather than imposing broad economic sanctions on South Africa.
• Repeal of the BELA Act
The delegation highlighted the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, claiming that it threatens the survival of Afrikaans-medium schools and the broader Afrikaner cultural identity.
• Abolition of Racial Laws
AfriForum and Solidarity have long contended that South Africa’s affirmative action and black economic empowerment (BEE) policies are discriminatory. They called for the phasing out of these laws, which they argue disadvantage minority communities.
• Protection Against Incitement to Violence
The memorandum urged U.S. intervention to push the South African government to take a firmer stance against statements that incite violence against Afrikaners.
• Recognition of Afrikaners as a Distinct Cultural Community
The delegation sought U.S. endorsement of Afrikaners’ right to cultural self-determination and the establishment of protected cultural infrastructure in South Africa.
• Utilization of the Magnitsky Act
The delegation proposed using the U.S. Magnitsky Act, which allows for sanctions against individuals accused of corruption and human rights abuses, to target specific ANC leaders rather than penalizing the broader South African population.

The memorandum is available for public endorsement at washingtonmemorandum.co.za, allowing supporters to add their voices to the initiative.

A Surprise Visit That Caught Many Off Guard

The visit to Washington took many by surprise. According to Newsroom Africa’s Washington correspondent Simon Marks, there was no prior announcement about the delegation’s presence in the U.S. capital. Neither the White House nor the visiting South African group disclosed the meeting’s details in advance, leaving many analysts scrambling to understand the implications.

Photographs of the four-man delegation outside the White House surfaced on social media, confirming that they had entered the premises as official visitors. However, the Trump administration did not publicly acknowledge the meeting, and the identities of the U.S. officials they met remain unknown.

This development is significant because it marks the first time a South African civil society delegation has secured direct engagement with the Trump administration on issues related to Afrikaner rights. It also suggests that powerful figures within Trump’s circle continue to take a keen interest in South African affairs.

Broader Diplomatic Context: U.S.-South Africa Tensions Escalate

The AfriForum and Solidarity delegation’s visit comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and South Africa. On 7 February 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order cutting financial assistance to South Africa, citing concerns over its land policy and its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The executive order included:

• A freeze on non-humanitarian U.S. aid to South Africa
• A policy review of South Africa’s participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)
• Offering refugee status to white South African farmers, who, according to the Trump administration, face discrimination and potential land seizures

Trump’s move has sparked both praise and criticism. Supporters argue that it sends a strong message to the ANC government over its land expropriation policies. Critics, however, say it threatens South Africa’s economy and could lead to job losses.

While AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement welcomed Trump’s attention to their concerns, they expressed regret over the withdrawal of financial aid. They clarified that they do not support mass emigration and remain committed to improving conditions for Afrikaners within South Africa.

The South African government, on the other hand, condemned the executive order as “misguided” and “based on outdated, inaccurate narratives.” The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) described the move as “a misrepresentation of South Africa’s democratic land reform process.”

South Africa’s Response to AfriForum’s White House Engagement

The South African government has yet to officially respond to the meeting between AfriForum and Trump officials, but political analysts predict a sharp rebuke. The ruling ANC has historically criticized AfriForum’s lobbying efforts in the U.S., arguing that they undermine the country’s sovereignty and misrepresent its policies.

A key concern for the South African government is the potential impact on AGOA, which provides duty-free access to U.S. markets for South African exports. While the delegation urged Trump not to revoke AGOA benefits, their calls for targeted sanctions against ANC leaders could still fuel diplomatic tensions.

Government sources indicate that plans for an official South African delegation to visit Washington were already in place before AfriForum’s visit. However, reports suggest that Pretoria has struggled to secure high-level meetings with Trump administration officials, raising questions about the country’s diplomatic standing.

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