President Cyril Ramaphosa will not be meeting with AfriForum or Solidarity, the Presidency has confirmed, citing their alleged role in spreading falsehoods about South Africa’s Expropriation Act.
Speaking to the SABC, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya dismissed the meeting request, questioning why AfriForum sought an audience with the president after their international lobbying campaign against the country.
“In 2018, AfriForum engaged in an international talk in which they peddled lies about South Africa. They misrepresented our country and our laws, and they did so deliberately,” Magwenya said.
AfriForum’s Claims and Trump’s Response
AfriForum, a civil rights group advocating for Afrikaner interests, has long been vocal about land expropriation. The organization previously rejected an offer from former US President Donald Trump to relocate to the US for refugee protection.
However, they also wrote to Trump’s administration, claiming that South African landowners were facing forced confiscation. The letter reportedly urged Trump to act against ANC politicians, further fueling tensions between the two nations.
In response, Trump’s administration cut financial aid to South Africa, a decision that was widely condemned by the government and civil society groups, who argued that Trump was misled and misinformed.
Magwenya insisted that the US knew the truth about South Africa’s land policies but proceeded with sanctions anyway.
Calls for Action Against AfriForum
AfriForum’s actions have drawn sharp criticism, with some South Africans accusing the group of treason for misrepresenting the country abroad. Critics argue that their claims led to unwarranted diplomatic and financial consequences.
There have been growing calls for Ramaphosa to take decisive action against AfriForum, but so far, the presidency has not indicated whether legal steps will be pursued.
Malema’s Take: US Retaliating Over SA’s Palestine Support
Adding another layer to the controversy, EFF leader Julius Malema linked the US government’s decision to South Africa’s stance on Palestine.
During the State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate, Malema told Ramaphosa that the US was using the Expropriation Act as a pretext to punish South Africa for taking Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its actions in Gaza.
“The US is fighting us for standing with Palestine,” Malema claimed, suggesting that the sanctions had less to do with land policies and more to do with geopolitical tensions.
No Meeting, No Resolution?
Despite AfriForum and Solidarity’s request for a sit-down with Ramaphosa, Magwenya made it clear that the door is firmly closed.
“Before that [international talk], they did not seek an audience with the president. It’s not clear why they are seeking one now,” he stated.
“I can categorically state now that the president will not meet with them.”
With no resolution in sight, tensions between the South African government and AfriForum remain high, while the fallout from Trump’s decision continues to impact the country’s diplomatic relations.
