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 welcomes the fact that US action does not harm ordinary South Africans

Video: Kallie Kriel (English)

Soundbite: Kallie Kriel (English)

AfriForum welcomes the fact that the US’s latest action regarding South Africa will not harm ordinary South Africans or the country itself, but is specifically directed at politicians and others guilty of gross human rights violations against minorities and Afrikaners. According to AfriForum, the human rights violations referred to by the US include calls for ethnic violence against Afrikaners and farmers – such as the slogan “Kill the Boer” – as well as the initiation and implementation of expropriation without compensation and discriminatory racial measures.

This move by the US entails, among other things, that individuals who engage in speech inciting violence against minorities, or who are responsible for pushing through policies that would harm minorities and property rights in South Africa, will be denied access to the US.

According to Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, proposals by AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement to resolve the dispute with the US – which were presented to the South African government during discussions over the past nine months – have so far fallen on deaf ears, and the South African government must consequently accept responsibility for the latest turn of events.

“As part of the Solidarity Movement’s submissions to the government, AfriForum has made comprehensive proposals on how the dispute with the US regarding the Expropriation Bill and the ‘Kill the Boer’ slogan can be resolved, and has also submitted a comprehensive plan on how the fight against rural crime and farm murders can be intensified,” Kriel adds.

While the government drags its feet on decisions regarding the proposals, AfriForum will, according to Kriel, continue to fight the new Expropriation Act – which enables expropriation without compensation – in the South African courts with everything in their power. The case has already commenced in the Western Cape High Court.

Kriel also points out that – given the failure of South African courts to take action against Julius Malema’s use of the “Kill the Boer” slogan – AfriForum will continue its existing campaign to urge the international community to take action against Malema. According to Kriel, AfriForum is grateful that the US has now imposed punitive measures against those, such as Malema, who incite ethnic violence against Afrikaners and other minorities.

AfriForum remains committed to continuing, in cooperation with the Solidarity Movement, to help find solutions to the dispute between South Africa and the US through the dialogue the organisation is currently conducting with both the South African and US governments.

“We will once again draw the South African government’s attention to the need to seriously consider the proposals made by AfriForum, Solidarity, and the Solidarity Movement to resolve the dispute with the US. It is in the interest of everyone in the country to help prevent South Africa from being punished due to the reckless policies and actions of a group of politicians,” Kriel concludes.