In a heated exchange marked by diverging views on national unity, AfriForum’s CEO Kallie Kriel has firmly rebutted President Cyril Ramaphosa’s claim that lobby groups, including Solidarity, are creating division by their recent visit to the Trump administration in the United States. Ramaphosa’s comments, made during an education summit in Gauteng, pointed fingers at those seeking international assistance instead of fostering a cohesive nation. “What they are doing has spawned divisions in our nation. This is not a nation-building process of running around the world to have your problems solved,” he stated.
In response, Kriel argued that the trip to the White House was a necessary move borne out of mounting frustrations with the South African government’s refusal to engage with pressing concerns faced by Afrikaans-speaking communities. “It is Ramaphosa who signed the anti-Afrikaans Bela Act – an act that threatens the cultural existence of Afrikaans-speaking cultural communities,” Kriel remarked. He emphasized that the underlying issues of the Bela Act and land expropriation without compensation are fundamental threats impacting the rights and identities of many South Africans.
Kriel charged Ramaphosa with furthering division himself, mentioning that the president has failed to condemn inflammatory rhetoric such as ‘Kill the Boer’ and has neglected to acknowledge the alarming rates of farm murders. “These actions are what truly divide our nation,” he asserted, framing the government’s policies as a catalyst for social discord.
Moreover, Kriel addressed the challenges faced by lobby groups in trying to communicate their concerns effectively. He revealed that letters sent to Ramaphosa regarding the Bela Act, the Expropriation Act, and tensions with the US administration have gone unanswered. “We will not be deterred. We will simply continue to fight for the interests of the country, and we will also fight unashamedly for the interests of Afrikaners,” he vowed, reinforcing AfriForum’s commitment to advocacy amidst adversity.
As the discussions with the Trump administration continue, AfriForum remains undeterred, with Kriel expressing that such challenges only serve to fuel their resolve. “These statements only motivate us more to get our message out loud and clear. We are not going to be silenced by the so-called ‘cancel culture’ and we look forward to the future,” he stated, leaving the door open for ongoing dialogue and action aimed at protecting the interests of their constituents.