A recent meeting between South African lobby group AfriForum and officials from former US President Donald Trump’s administration has drawn widespread condemnation, with some politicians calling for treason charges against the group’s leaders.
AfriForum, along with trade union Solidarity, met with Trump administration representatives in Washington to advocate for Afrikaner rights in South Africa while calling for punitive measures against African National Congress (ANC) leaders. AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said the meeting was motivated by frustrations over the South African government’s refusal to address their concerns, particularly over farm attacks and property rights under the Expropriation Act.
Calls for Strong Reaction and Legal Action
The meeting sparked outrage across South Africa, with critics accusing AfriForum of foreign interference in its internal affairs. Social media users have condemned the group’s actions, with political figures and analysts describing them as an attack on the country’s sovereignty.
Carl Niehaus, a member of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), called for the delegation’s immediate arrest upon their return, saying: “They all need to be arrested immediately for treason! This has gone too far.”
Vuyo Zungula, leader of the African Transformation Movement (ATM), echoed these sentiments, criticising the South African government for failing to act. “These groups need to be struck off the register and their leaders charged with treason,” he said.
Accusations of White Supremacism
The controversy has also reignited debate about AfriForum’s wider role in South African society. Political commentator Kim Heller argued that the group promotes a persistent sense of white supremacy, saying: “AfriForum yearns for apartheid, where the black man was a servant, not a ruler.”
Similarly, writer Naledi Mashishi expressed concern about the group’s willingness to align with Trump, a figure criticised for undermining democracy and promoting divisive policies. “It speaks volumes for the solidarity and the fact that AfriForum feels so strongly about approaching him to achieve their interests in SA,” she said.