AfriForum's U-turn on ‘white genocide’ as they decline Trump’s refugee offer

AfriForum and the the Solidarity Movement have backtracked on the white genocide claims, publicly turning down US President Donald Trump's offer for refuge in the United States of America. 

In a joint media briefing on Saturday, the Afrikaner interest and civil society group AfriForum, and the trade union Solidarity, were unequivocal, saying white Afrikaners were going nowhere and the Afrikaners’ future lies in Africa, specifically in South Africa. 

This comes after Trump signed an executive order on Friday to cut financial assistance to South Africa for HIV through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), while he also issued an order for the prioritisation of white Afrikaners through the United States refugee programme, accusing Pretoria of discriminating against Afrikaners through the newly signed Land Expropriation Act.

Afriforum stated the executive order is a direct result of President Cyril Ramaphosa and his government’s irresponsible actions and policies. 

The organisation expressed its appreciation to Trump and the US recognition of the ‘injustice to which Afrikaners are subjected in South Africa’. 

During the media briefing the organisation said it believed its problems and solutions should be faced locally. 

AfriForum CEO, Kallie Kriel said Afrikaners will only be able to survive as a cultural community on local soil. 

“Emigration only offers an opportunity for Afrikaners who are willing to risk potentially sacrificing their descendants’ cultural identity as Afrikaners. The price for that is simply too high. We also owe it to our forefathers not to nullify their sacrifices to let Afrikaners take shape as a people by giving up our self-existence as Afrikaners,” he said. 

Kriel further stated that AfriForum, together with the Solidarity, will focus on practical proposals to tackle the injustices to which Afrikaners are subjected, based on mutual recognition and respect with other communities in the country.

“Suggestions will also be made on how Afrikaners can contribute positively to tackling the crises that other cultural communities and the country as a whole are currently experiencing,” Kriel said. 

Chairman of the Solidarity Movement, Flip Buys said he will be reaching out to Ramaphosa and visiting the US soon in an attempt to find solutions that will benefit everyone. 

Buys said while they welcomed the concerns by the US, they believe the solution must be found in South Africa. 

“We reaffirm today, our commitment, our recommitment, to the country and all its people,” he said. 

AfriForum, Solidarity address Fake News

Buys also stated he needed to clear up some ‘fake news’. 

“We have not, or will not call for sanctions against South Africa or that funds for vulnerable people be cut off by the US government,” Buys said. 

“The order of Trump is as a result of the reckless policies of the ANC leadership that alienated the superpowers and not the so-called disinformation campaign from our side,” Buys said.

According to Kriel, AfriForum’s proposals include, among other things, the following:

• The tabling of amendment laws on the Basic Education Law Amendment Act (Bela), which specifically threatens the existence of Afrikaans schools and cultural communities; and the -Expropriation Act which threatens property rights.
• South Africa’s return to a foreign policy that is neutral regarding international conflicts. The South African government’s reckless anti-Western and anti-American foreign policy is directly contributing to the fact that the economic well-being of all people in the country is now in jeopardy.
• The reaching of a cultural accord between the South African government and Afrikaners and other cultural communities that would prefer it, according to which cultural space will be offered for African institutions and cultural communities. This proposed agreement must also stipulate that the hostility towards Afrikaner institutions is stopped and that these institutions must be considered as partners in building a better future in South Africa.
• The cessation of racial discrimination against Afrikaners and other minorities.
• The cessation of statements that are hateful to Afrikaners and other minorities such as the use of the Kill the Boer chant.

AfriForum also suggested that there should be accelerated efforts, in everyone’s interest to:

• Ensure the safety of all citizens and these plans must include steps to put an end to farm murders. 
• Tackle corruption effectively by ensuring, among other things, that individuals who have been identified as state capturers by the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture must be urgently prosecuted.
• Given the decay of local governments, give local communities the space to get involved in service delivery and actions to improve the communities in which they live. 
• Consider community institutions and civil organisations, which have the capacity to help solve the service delivery crisis in the country, as partners with whom cooperation agreements can be entered into. 
• Extend mother language education to all communities. 

“The organisation’s proposals can be further expanded following discussions that are now being planned with the South African and American governments,” Kriel said.

Earlier on Saturday, Pretoria, through International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, slammed Washington for misinformation, while it noted the Trump issued executive orders against South Africa.  

Ramaphosa has also committed that a delegation of government and sectoral leaders, would be sent to capitals around the world and in Africa, to explain South Africa's position.

robin.francke@iol.co.za

IOL