DIRCO warns Afrikaners seeking refuge in US of challenges ahead
The first group of 49 Afrikaner 'refugees ' leaving South Africa for the US.
eNCA/Hloni Mtimkulu
PRETORIA - Government insists that there is no genocide against any group of people in South Africa.
It has made this clear in talks with the US administration, as a group of 49 Afrikaners arrive in Washington, DC, after applying for refugee status.
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IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
You, SA and USA relations
Zachariah Johannes Olivier, Rudolph de Wet and William Musora face charges of murder after the bodies of two women were left in a pigsty on a Limpopo farm. The US raised the case as an instance of extrajudicial killing. Image: NPA WE HAVE all been fixated by the recent exchange between Pretoria and Washington following the US State Department's report on human rights in South Africa and our government's rejection of the report as "inaccurate and deeply flawed". This is more than just a diplomatic spat; it has significant economic implications. It may be served as a form of retribution for the SA governments, Israel and the ICJ stance. The US claims include a "significantly worsened" human rights situation, citing issues from land expropriation without compensation targeting Afrikaners, arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killings, and repression of racial minorities. In a decidedly blunt rejoinder the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) dismissed the report as "inaccurate and deeply flawed", accusing it of relying on "context-free information and unreliable accounts" and distortions - especially concerning incidents still before independent judicial processes. Dirco points to the transparent and contested nature of the law, framed within constitutional mechanisms and robust judicial oversight. Indeed, expropriation, including without compensation, is not unprecedented in constitutional democracies when tied to public interest objectives and subject to due process. The US also raised the Limpopo 'pig farm' case as an instance of extrajudicial killing, where two female farmworkers were allegedly murdered and fed to pigs, Dirco labels this as misrepresentation. Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ The matter is 'actively adjudicated' by independent courts, and governmental structures diligently pursue proper investigation. These observations highlight tension between extrinsic perceptions and internal legal due process. In assessing human rights conditions, global observers must afford deference to domestic institutions when they demonstrably function coherently and transparently. From an economic standpoint, land reform remains both a moral and fiscal imperative in SA, one that seeks to rectify historical injustices while fostering agrarian productivity and broad-based participation. Blanket condemnation of expropriation laws, without acknowledging their redistributive motivations, risks entrenching inequality and inhibiting economic transformation. SA's pursuit of redress must not be misconstrued as an affront to minority rights when carried out via legal and accountable channels. The SA government's rebuttal, as articulated by the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, challenges the very credibility of the US report. It highlights a reliance on "a-contextual information" and discredited accounts, and points to the irony of a nation that has exited the UN Human Rights Council critiquing another's record. This counter-narrative is crucial for SA as it seeks to maintain its economic relationships. By framing the report as politically motivated and factually baseless, the SA government is attempting to mitigate its international reputation. We ultimately want to preserve the trade agreement and attract capital. From an economic perspective, property rights are the cornerstone of a stable investment climate. The perception, real or manufactured, that property rights are at risk can deter foreign direct investment and create domestic capital flight. It signals a heightened level of political and regulatory risk, which local and international investors are highly sensitive to. The economic fallout of this diplomatic friction could first impact the risk assessments of international rating agencies, potentially leading to a further downgrade of SA's sovereign debt, resulting in increased borrowing costs for both the government and private sector, stifling growth. Secondly, the "extrajudicial killings" and "repression" narrative can tarnish the brand SA, impacting tourism and the willingness of multinational corporations to establish a presence or remain in SA. The SA criticism of the US, comparing the Biden administration's more inclusive human rights approach, was supplanted by the current US right-leaning approach. The irony of receiving judgment from a country that has withdrawn from the UN Human Rights Council. SA government could argue that if human rights advocacy is to retain credibility, it must transcend partisan biases and engage fairly and consistently with the US own processes. Recommendations for moving forward In light of this controversy, the following is proposed: - Multilateral verification: SA should invite independent international bodies - preferably UN-mandated institutions - to objectively assess the contested claims, including land policy execution and farm-attack data. - Strengthen communication: Dirco and SA's legal and statistical bodies should proactively disseminate accurate, evidence-based reports to domestic and international audiences, promoting transparency. - Diplomatic engagement: SA should use diplomatic channels to engage with US counterparts, emphasising shared interests and discouraging unilateral politicisation of human rights narratives. - Institutional dialogue: Regional bodies (AU, SADC) and legal peer platforms should reaffirm adherence to due process and mutual respect for sovereign reforms enacted under constitutional frameworks. Ultimately, this is a battle of perception. The US report and SA's response are not just about human rights but about international influence and the economic levers that come with it. For SA, the challenge is to demonstrate, through action and not just words, that its constitutional democracy is robust and that its commitment to the rule of law and property rights remains unwavering. The economic future of the nation may depend on it. Advocate Lavan Gopaul Image: File
The Citizen
21 hours ago
- The Citizen
Dirco clarifies its response to US report that claimed racial minorities are abused in SA
Dirco disputed the 'inaccurate and distorted account of the facts' in the US Human Rights Report. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has updating its initial statement challenging the 2024 US Human Rights Report's assessment of safety conditions in South Africa's rural and farming communities. The report, released this month, stated that 'South Africa took a substantially worrying step towards land expropriation of Afrikaners and further abuses against racial minorities in the country'. It highlighted 'significant human rights issues', including unlawful killings, arbitrary arrest and the repression of racial minorities. 'The [South African] government did not take credible steps to investigate, prosecute, and punish officials who committed human rights abuses, including inflammatory racial rhetoric against Afrikaners and other racial minorities, or violence against racial minorities.' SA government rejects racial motivation claims Dirco on Wednesday said the South African government wishes to clarify what it called 'an inaccurate and distorted account of the facts'. It said the nation addresses all forms of crime as a significant challenge affecting all citizens, regardless of their race or location. 'The suggestion that these crimes represent a concerted practice of racially motivated attacks, as insinuated by the US report, is not borne out by the facts,' Dirco stated. ALSO READ: Dirco rejects 'inaccurate and deeply flawed' US reports on SA human rights Police statistics challenge US assessment Official statistics from the South African Police Service (Saps) support the government's position. The data covers rural safety for the fourth quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year, from 1 January to 31 March 2025. Dirco highlighted that during this period, six murder cases occurred in farming communities. The breakdown of victims demonstrates that crimes do not target a single racial group. According to the statistics quoted by Dirco, the three victims were farm employees, one was a farm dweller, and two were farmers. 'These figures underscore that violent crime in rural areas affects everyone who lives and works on farms and related rural areas,' the department said. 'While the loss of any life is a tragedy, these statistics do not reveal a pattern of action driven by inflammatory racial rhetoric against a specific community.' ALSO READ: US report on human rights abuse in SA rejected Rural safety strategy Dirco said the government continues implementing a multi-disciplinary approach to rural safety. It said the National Rural Safety Strategy remains a priority and operates in police station areas serving rural and farming communities. By the end of the fourth quarter of 2024/2025, the strategy had been fully implemented in 893 out of 900 identified rural police stations. The initiative focuses on strengthening police capacity and encouraging community involvement, including traditional leaders and agricultural organisations. Parties involved in rural safety strategy The strategy incorporates multiple stakeholder groups in its implementation. Commercial farmers associations participate through organisations including: African Farmers Association of South Africa, National African Farmers' Union, Agri-SA and its provincial structures, and Transvaal Agricultural Union. Labour unions also play a role, particularly the Food and Allied Workers Union and organisations advocating for farm workers' rights. Interest groups such as AfriForum, the South African Agricultural Research Institute, and Stop Attacks and Farm Murders contribute to the collaborative effort. Private sector collaboration The government said it actively strengthens public-private partnerships through specialised programmes. 'Furthermore, we are actively strengthening public-private partnerships through initiatives like the Eyes and Ears (E2) programme, coordinated with Business Against Crime South Africa (Bacsa),' the department stated. This initiative utilises the private security industry's technological and logistical capabilities, which improve response times to rural crimes. Commitment to transparency Dirco said South Africa maintains its commitment to transparent and collaborative crime-fighting approaches. The government expressed readiness to engage with other countries on matters of mutual interest through established diplomatic channels. 'We stand ready to engage with any nation on matters of mutual interest through established diplomatic channels, and we will continue to provide accurate, data-driven information to counter any misrepresentations of our domestic situation,' the department concluded. NOW READ: Dirco reviewing ministerial report on Hajj and Umrah for SA pilgrims
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
South Africa's struggle for happiness: insights from the World Happiness Report 2025
A global report has released the rankings of the happiest and most miserable countries based on the wellbeing of its residents. Social media platforms and online forums are filled with complaints about various issues. In present-day South Africa, national affairs continue to spark conversations among citizens. However, these discussions arise not from disdain but from deep patriotic sentiment and a desire to address the country's challenges. In May 2025, a group of 49 Afrikaners made headlines by leaving South Africa for the United States, claiming victimhood to discrimination and seeking refugee status. The Trump administration extended this status to them, and reports indicated that the US Embassy in Pretoria was processing around 8,000 similar applications, potentially signalling a larger wave of Afrikaners relocating to the US. Conversely, many African Americans are now seeking new beginnings in SA. Motivated by factors such as a more welcoming environment and a desire to escape racial tensions in the US, the allure of SA's rich culture and lower cost of living resonates with many. This juxtaposition of migration trends presents a complex picture of factors influencing an individual's happiness in a country. Perceptions of places vary, and while some individuals thrive in one environment, others may struggle in another. The World Happiness Report 2025 ranks countries based on their citizens' well-being. It uses data from 147 countries and analyses various factors that contribute to happiness. SA ranks 95th out of 147 countries assessed. While this may seem like a decline from previous years, local happiness economists suggest that the data reflects a three-year rolling average, indicating that individual annual assessments might show a more positive view of wellbeing. The report also highlights the happiest countries globally, with Nordic nations leading the rankings. Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden are celebrated for their high public happiness and strong social organisations. Their success starkly contrasts with the lowest-ranking nations, many of which face civil unrest, war, or natural disasters. The World Happiness Report further lists the ten least happy countries, underscoring the societal challenges they face:
