AfriForum
By Thabo Mosia
The South African government has fiercely criticised AfriForum and Solidariteit for what it labels “continuing misinformation campaigns” during their recent trip to the United States. At a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni revealed that law enforcement agencies are probing these groups for breaking South African laws. She highlighted a meeting where AfriForum admitted that official crime statistics on farm murders are correct, despite their claims of “white genocide.” The government also debunked a “false claim” that 72,000 white farmers want to relocate to the US, pointing to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) data showing only 41,122 farming units exist in the country.
A Clash Over Truth
AfriForum and Solidariteit, two Afrikaner advocacy groups, travelled to Washington, DC, in February 2025 to lobby US officials. Their mission? To push for sanctions against South Africa and seek support for white farmers, whom they say are under threat from policies like land expropriation. They handed over a memorandum to Trump administration officials, alleging that the government’s actions endanger Afrikaner communities. But the South African Cabinet sees this as a betrayal. “Cabinet has noted with concern ‘continuing misinformation campaigns by Solidariteit and AfriForum and their allies,’” Ntshavheni said, briefing journalists on the outcomes of Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called their actions “unpatriotic,” accusing them of damaging South Africa’s reputation abroad. The government insists these groups are twisting facts to fit a narrative of victimhood, particularly around farm murders and land reform.
Law Enforcement Takes Action
The government isn’t holding back. “Law enforcement agencies are investigating these violations of South African laws,” Ntshavheni declared. While she didn’t name the exact laws, speculation points to the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act or even charges of treason floated by some politicians. The South African Police Service (SAPS) stepped in to tackle the “misinformation” head-on, meeting with AfriForum to discuss their claims.
“At the meeting, AfriForum conceded that the crime statistics as released by the Minister of Police are accurate, including on farm murders,” Ntshavheni explained. This admission undermines AfriForum’s long-standing narrative of a “white genocide” linked to farm attacks. She added, “It is common knowledge that some of the farm murders are committed by people known to the farmers including family members.” SAPS data backs this up—about 30% of farm attacks in 2024 involved insiders like former workers or relatives.
Latest figures show 50 farm murders in the 2023/24 period, a slight drop from 54 the year before. These crimes affect farmers of all races, though AfriForum argues the government downplays a crisis, claiming 400 attacks happen yearly. CEO Kallie Kriel fired back, accusing the government of “dishonesty” and slamming policies like the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act for threatening Afrikaans schools.
Debunking the Relocation Myth
A major sticking point is the claim that 72,000 white farmers have signed up to relocate to the US, supposedly spurred by an invitation from President Donald Trump. Ntshavheni dismissed this as a “false claim,” leaning on hard data. “Citing data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), South Africa has only 41,122 farming units, therefore the number of commercial white farmers does not exceed this figure,” she said. A 2023 Stats SA Agricultural Census pegs white-owned commercial farms at around 32,000—nowhere near the 72,000 figure.
AfriForum’s US trip, however, has stirred the pot. Their memorandum to Trump officials coincided with his 2024 executive order halting aid to South Africa over land reform and other disputes. Some fear this could jeopardise the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which supports 60,000 South African jobs through R180 billion in yearly exports to the US. Social media lit up, with one user posting, “AfriForum’s just embarrassing us overseas,” while another argued, “They’re standing up for our rights.”
Voices from the Ground
This isn’t just a political spat—it’s personal for many. In rural areas, farm murders fuel fear, even if numbers are low. “We live with locked doors now,” said Piet Botha, a Free State farmer whose cousin was killed in 2023. “The government says it’s under control, but we don’t feel safe.” Meanwhile, land reform remains a burning issue. “My grandfather’s farm was taken in 1913,” said Nomsa Mkhize, a land claimant in KwaZulu-Natal. “We’re still waiting for it back—AfriForum can’t stop that.”
The government says its policies, like the Expropriation Act, are about fixing apartheid’s wrongs. AfriForum calls them an attack on property rights, warning of economic collapse. The divide runs deep, with both sides digging in.
A Bigger Picture
The fallout could ripple beyond South Africa’s borders. The US, a key trade partner, might tighten screws if AfriForum’s lobbying gains traction. Trump’s administration has already clashed with Pretoria over land reform and South Africa’s stance on global issues like the Israel-Palestine conflict. Losing AGOA could tank jobs and exports, hitting an economy already reeling from power cuts and unemployment.
Back home, the ANC’s fragile coalition adds pressure. Partners like the Democratic Alliance (DA) oppose the Budget over VAT hikes and land policies, with Ntshavheni accusing them of “siding with AfriForum’s agenda.” Police Minister Senzo Mchunu confirmed the Hawks are digging into possible treason charges—a move Kriel shrugged off, saying, “We’ll keep fighting.”
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