In a scathing response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s accusations, AfriForum’s CEO Kallie Kriel has denied that their visit to the Trump administration in the US is an attempt to sow division in South Africa. Instead, Kriel blames Ramaphosa and the African National Congress (ANC) leaders for causing division through policies like the Bela Act and land expropriation without compensation ¹. Kriel argues that these policies threaten the cultural existence of Afrikaans-speaking communities and that Ramaphosa’s refusal to condemn violent slogans and deny farm murders is a clear indication of his administration’s divisive agenda.
Kriel’s response comes after Ramaphosa criticized AfriForum and other lobby groups for seeking external help to address their concerns, stating that this approach is not conducive to nation-building. However, Kriel maintains that their visit to the US is a result of the South African government’s refusal to engage with their concerns. He claims that letters sent to Ramaphosa regarding the Bela Act, Expropriation Act, and US tensions were ignored, leaving them with no choice but to seek international support ¹.
AfriForum’s stance has sparked a heated debate about the role of lobby groups in shaping South Africa’s future. Kriel’s defiant response makes it clear that AfriForum will continue to fight for the interests of Afrikaners and the country as a whole, despite criticism from the government. The delegation’s ongoing discussions with the Trump administration will likely be closely watched as this saga unfolds ¹.
