Who and what is AfriForum?

AfriForum is an Afrikaans civil rights organisation that protects the rights of minority groups at national as well as provincial level, and anyone who can identify with AfriForum’s principles and objectives may join the organisation. AfriForum’s community plan focuses on mobilising communities to thus take control of their own streets and neighbourhoods again. AfriForum ensures that your constitutional and civil rights are recognised and protected at national level.

Wie en wat is AfriForum?

AfriForum is ’n Afrikaanse burgerregteorganisasie wat die regte van minderheidsgroepe op sowel nasionale as provinsiale vlak beskerm, en enigiemand wat met AfriForum se beginsels en doelstellings kan identifiseer, mag by die organisasie aansluit. AfriForum se gemeenskapsplan fokus daarop om gemeenskappe te mobiliseer om só weer beheer terug te neem oor hul eie strate en woonbuurtes. AfriForum verseker dat jou grondwetlike én burgerregte op nasionale vlak erken en beskerm word.

AfriForum calls on junior GNU partners to formally object to Lamola’s reckless statements

Soundbite: Ernst van Zyl (English)

Soundbite: Ernst van Zyl (Afrikaans)

AfriForum calls on the nine smaller parties within the Government of National Unity (GNU) to formally object to the ANC’s current handling of South Africa’s international relations. This appeal is prompted particularly by the recent actions and statements of Ronald Lamola – the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation – regarding the United States of America (USA) and its ambassador to South Africa. These include Lamola’s remark that the USA ambassador should “leave the kitchen” if he is tired of talking, as well as his address at an event hosted by the Democratic Socialists of America. AfriForum believes that these and other actions by Lamola could further damage the already strained relations between South Africa and the USA.

AfriForum points out that the GNU comprises ten parties, yet the positions of only one party are currently being promoted in the sphere of international relations. According to the Statement of Intent of the 2024 Government of National Unity – the guiding document signed by all ten members – consensus must be reached on all policy matters, and the principle of “sufficient consensus” must be applied where consensus does not exist. Clause 11.9 of the document also stipulates that the GNU’s foreign policy must be based on the national interest and the peaceful resolution of disputes. AfriForum contends that this principle is currently being violated and that the other parties in the GNU should now formally lodge an objection, as provided for in Clause 20 of the statement.

The GNU’s dispute resolution mechanism (or the Clearing House mechanism) was specifically established as a platform for GNU partners to resolve policy disputes and is therefore the ideal channel for raising objections to Lamola’s actions. AfriForum is unaware of Lamola’s actions – or relations with the USA – having been discussed at all by the GNU’s dispute resolution forum, and maintains that parties differing from the ANC are obliged to refer the matter to this forum.

According to Ernst van Zyl, Head of Public Relations at AfriForum, the ANC should no longer act as if it has a mandate to govern the country alone. “The ANC is acting as if it is bigger than it actually is. The ANC is neither large enough to command the support of the majority of South Africans nor large enough to take on a diplomatic war with the USA on its own. Lamola cannot be allowed to place his party’s interests above the interests of the country and its people. Therefore, the other parties in the GNU must now act urgently.”

Over the past ten months, AfriForum, Solidarity, and the Solidarity Movement have engaged in ongoing discussions with the ANC and American diplomats in an effort to maintain positive relations between Washington and Pretoria. Last week, at a conference, AfriForum, Solidarity, and the Solidarity Movement announced the five responses from these organisations to Washington’s requests, and they believe that these responses can resolve the current dispute in South Africa’s interest.