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.

International liaison Media statements | Media statements

Import tariff shock: ANC must take blame for Trump’s decision – AfriForum

ByAfriForum 03/04/202503/04/2025

Video: Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum

ANC leaders and the ANC-led government must be held directly accountable for the punishment that US President Donald Trump imposed on South Africa with the implementation of an import tariff that is much high than most other countries. This is according to the civil rights organisation AfriForum after Trump announced new tariffs on imports to the US late last night South African time and imposed a so-called “reciprocal tariff” on South Africa and approximately 60 other countries due to these countries’ bad relations with the US.

Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, asserts that South Africa and its people are now reaping the bitter fruits of the ANC leadership in the government’s reckless policies and defiant actions towards the US. “These ANC leaders have put their ideology and interests as well as those of their party above the interests of the citizens of South Africa,” explains Kriel.

The pleas by AfriForum and others for a change of direction in South Africa were made in the interest of the country and its people and in an attempt to avoid punitive measures against South Africa and its residents. Yet those who dismissed the US’ grievances against South Africa as a misunderstanding based on so-called “misinformation” have hampered these efforts. “These deniers must therefore also bear the blame for the current crisis,” emphasises Kriel.

He maintains that the US’ punitive measures could have been averted if the problems had been openly identified and solutions had been found, and a change of direction could therefore have been brought about in South Africa.

“AfriForum will continue to campaign for a change of direction in the country, as this is the only way in which the US’ punitive measures can be lifted. This change of direction entails that South Africa must protect the property and human rights of all people – including those of Afrikaners and other minority communities. Furthermore, government must prioritise the interests of South Africans by pursuing a truly neutral foreign policy,” concludes Kriel.