Amidst an ongoing national debate, former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has strongly criticized the actions of the lobby group AfriForum, condemning their involvement in the recent sanctions imposed on South Africa by United States President Donald Trump. Madonsela argues that AfriForum’s actions have been morally reprehensible, as they have led to significant backlash, including cuts to critical financial aid that millions of South Africans rely on.
According to IOL, AfriForum, along with Solidarity, has been lobbying U.S. officials for months, appealing for action against South Africa’s land expropriation and transformation laws. Their efforts culminated in Trump’s Executive Order last month, which imposed sanctions and accused the South African government of “egregious actions,” particularly concerning land expropriation and the treatment of white farmers.
Madonsela, a respected law professor at Stellenbosch University, spoke candidly about the situation during an interview with Newzroom Afrika. She explained that AfriForum, in particular, is struggling with the new South Africa, where all citizens, regardless of race, are treated equally. “AfriForum is struggling with the reality of being ordinary because the new South Africa requires all of us to be ordinary, whereas colonialism and apartheid made white people special people,” she explained.
The public discourse over AfriForum’s role in the sanctions has sparked outrage, with many viewing their actions as an attempt to reverse progress toward equality and social justice in the country. “They seem to have found an ally in the American president, and clearly that is neither compatible with social justice nor human rights,” Madonsela said, emphasizing that their efforts contradict the values celebrated in Human Rights Month.
In a separate development, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has challenged AfriForum to provide evidence supporting their claims about the so-called farm murders, which the organization has made a focal point of their campaigns. According to the latest police statistics, only one farmer was murdered in the third quarter of 2024, contradicting AfriForum’s assertions of a crisis. Mchunu, frustrated by AfriForum’s stance, called on them to provide verifiable evidence that disputes the official crime statistics.
Madonsela, while acknowledging potential underreporting of other crimes like rape, insists that it would be impossible for the police to underreport murders, making the evidence difficult to refute.
As the political drama unfolds, the fallout from Trump’s sanctions continues to fuel a divisive debate over South Africa’s land policies and the role of lobbying groups like AfriForum. With tensions high, Madonsela’s call for accountability and a return to moral principles in governance echoes across the nation, highlighting the complex intersection of race, politics, and justice in post-apartheid South Africa.
