AfriForum Backs Rubio’s Critique of SA Policies, Offers to Aid US-SA Relations Repair Amid G20 Exclusion Row

Civil rights group AfriForum has thrown its weight behind US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s harsh take on South Africa’s direction under the ANC, saying the growing rift with Washington stems from real problems that cannot be waved away as fake news like President Cyril Ramaphosa suggests. In a statement on Thursday, AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel agreed with Rubio’s view that the government must own up to its shortcomings instead of pointing fingers, and pledged to help find fixes for hot-button issues like property rights, rural killings and laws based on race. This stance comes as ties between the two nations hit a low, with the US planning to leave South Africa out of its 2026 G20 setup – a move that has sparked debate on diplomacy, truth and how to mend fences.

AfriForum’s support for Rubio adds fuel to a fire that’s burning bright in South African politics, where home-grown groups are teaming up with foreign voices to push for change. As everyday people feel the pinch of economic woes and safety fears, this spat shows how global views can shape local talks, urging leaders to tackle root causes head-on for a stronger future.

The Spark: Rubio’s Scathing Assessment and G20 Snub

The tension boiled over when Rubio rolled out the US framework for its 2026 G20 presidency, shutting South Africa out while bringing in Poland. In a policy paper called “America Welcomes a New G20,” Rubio slammed the ANC-led government for ditching post-apartheid democracy, chasing policies that stir racial tension, tanking the economy with quotas and rules that scare off business, and cosying up to US foes. He said leaders after Nelson Mandela drove away the country’s best talent and let violence against Afrikaner farmers slide as policy.

Rubio argued South Africa ran its 2025 G20 term with spite, focusing on grudges instead of teamwork. “The radical ANC-led South African government has sought to scapegoat its own citizens and the United States,” he wrote, adding that the US backs South Africa’s people but not its current rulers, and will not put up with more bad behaviour.

This follows earlier US boycotts of SA’s G20 meetings and Trump’s past tweets on farm attacks, influenced by groups like AfriForum. The exclusion has ruffled feathers, with SA seeing it as a slap based on wrong info.

AfriForum’s Stand: Agree with Rubio, Push for Real Fixes

AfriForum’s Kallie Kriel did not mince words, backing Rubio’s call for the government to take blame for its mess-ups rather than blaming others. “The dispute between the USA and South Africa should be resolved urgently. This cannot be achieved by falsely claiming that the dispute is the result of disinformation, as President Ramaphosa does. The focus should rather be on finding solutions to real issues of dispute, such as the disregard for property rights, farm murders, and discrimination through race-based legislation,” Kriel said on social media.

He added that AfriForum stands ready to help sort out the mess constructively. This lines up with the group’s long push on farm safety and against policies they see as unfair, like broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE). AfriForum has lobbied in the US before, meeting officials in 2018 to highlight rural violence, which led to Trump’s tweet on “large-scale killings” of white farmers – a claim widely debunked as overstated but still fuelling debates.

Kriel argues these are not made-up stories but real worries that hurt SA’s image abroad, urging talks over denial to rebuild ties with key partners like the US.

Ramaphosa’s Pushback: ‘Baseless Allegations’ and a Call for Dialogue

President Cyril Ramaphosa hit back, calling the US snub “regrettable” and rooted in “baseless, false allegations” about land grabs and farmer killings. In a national address, he said SA tried to reset relations through open chats, but punitive steps based on twists persist. Ramaphosa stressed SA’s founding G20 role and commitment to teamwork, dismissing exclusion as against the forum’s spirit.

International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola echoed this, congratulating the US on its turn but slamming their take as a misread of SA’s efforts. He cited praise from leaders like India’s Narendra Modi and the IMF’s Kristalina Georgieva for SA’s warm hosting and focus on global south issues, arguing true leadership bridges divides, not builds walls.

Historical Tensions: From 2018 Lobbying to Today’s Fallout

This is not new ground. AfriForum’s 2018 US trip, where Kriel and others raised farm murder alarms, sparked Trump’s tweet and a State Department review that found no widespread killings. But the narrative stuck, influencing US views on SA’s safety and policies.

Rubio’s latest barbs build on this, accusing SA of economic self-sabotage through redistribution and quotas that chase away talent. He ties it to foreign policy, like SA’s neutral stance on Ukraine and ties to Russia and China, which the US sees as anti-Western.

For SA, this hurts trade – the US is a top partner under AGOA, worth billions in exports. Exclusion from G20 talks could limit input on debt, climate and growth, issues key for developing nations.

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