In a surprising shift, AfriForum — long known for its confrontational stance against the ANC — is now seeking to mend relations with the very ruling party it once urged the United States to sanction.
This dramatic U-turn follows a string of controversial actions by the civil rights group, including petitioning the US government to punish ANC leaders for alleged corruption and human rights violations, and spreading widely debunked claims of “targeted attacks” on white South Africans — a narrative that international observers and local experts have called misleading and inflammatory.
Now, AfriForum appears to be softening its approach, calling for what it describes as “constructive engagement” with the African National Congress.
“We believe it’s time for dialogue over division,” a spokesperson said, claiming the group is open to “collaborative solutions” for South Africa’s challenges.
But critics are skeptical. Many view AfriForum’s outreach as politically opportunistic, especially as global support for the “white genocide” narrative has waned and the group’s influence abroad appears to be diminishing.
“You can’t build trust after years of antagonism without acknowledging the damage done,” said a political analyst. “This isn’t reconciliation — it’s damage control.”
The ANC has yet to respond formally to AfriForum’s overtures, but insiders say any engagement would likely require a public retraction of false claims and an end to international lobbying against the South African government.
As the 2024 election aftermath continues to reshape political alliances, AfriForum’s pivot raises deeper questions about the role of civil society, race, and reconciliation in South Africa’s evolving democracy.
