‘I'm no sell-out': Political activist says leaving SA was a last resort

The Citizen

23-05-2025

Langton, a 'refugee' under a US programme for SA farmers, says his departure reflects SA's deepening crisis and not disloyalty.
Refugee to the United States under the Trump-era Afrikaner resettlement programme, politician Errol Langton, a former organiser for right of centre party the United Independent Movement (UIM) on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, says he's no sell-out for heading to what he believes are greener pastures.
Langton was part of the first cohort of 49 asylum seekers who left for the US at the invitation of President Donald Trump.
He said he fought for a better SA until his departure last week as an improved version of the country had not materialised.
Tipping point
Langton said the tipping point for him was worsening socioeconomic conditions and 'a lack of accountability'.
He said he hoped his exit would inspire change and directly impact the country positively. Langton questioned the viability of continued political participation in a country where, according to him, economic and social collapse was accelerating unchecked.
'Tell me, how many jobs are being created? Do not misquote me and make any reference to race or culture. I am asking how many jobs, non-government jobs, have been created? How much has the economy grown over the past 31 years? How many trillions have been looted?' he asked.
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State interventions such as social relief grants, argued Langton, could not replace a functioning economy.
'Those social relief of distress grants will eventually go away, then what? More people will starve. Those paying taxes will walk away, too,' he said.
Echoing the Make America Great Again rationale for welcoming Afrikaners from South Africa, he raised concerns about rural safety and claimed the extent of violence in farming communities was underplayed.
Praise MAGA's concerns about rural safety
The refugee programme was introduced to offer asylum to white South African farmers, citing persecution and rural violence.
'The world and media are so hung up on how many farm murders there are and that it is not genocide. It is a lie that the government tells itself and the rest of the world.
'Do you need to be murdered to be persecuted? I argue that those who survive vicious rape and assault are the statistic that should be measured.'
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Langton suggested black farmers should be included.
'What about the black farmers who have less of a voice, who perpetually have their livelihood taken away from them through livestock theft, assault and so on? All farmers work hard to put food on the country's tables and what do they get in return?' he asked.
He drew parallels between South Africa and historical examples of what he called cultural genocide, citing the Alhambra Decree against Jews in 15th century Spain, the suppression of Tibetan culture in the 1950s, the treatment of Uyghurs in China and the forced deportations of ethnic groups under the Soviet regime.
Parallels between SA and 'cultural genocide'
He argued that the persecution of South African farmers and lack of state protection amounted to a form of systemic erasure.
'Do you need to be murdered to be persecuted?' he asked.
'Those who survive vicious rape and assault are the statistic that should be measured.'
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Langton said the suffering of rural communities was ignored by those in power and dismissed by the media, warning that future generations would look back and 'see a different picture'.
He was heavily criticised in the media for just being Caucasian, neither a working farmer nor Afrikaner.
Langton also lashed out at local media.
'Shame on local media'
'Shame on you, as a member of the South African media, you should be fighting to expose the reality of South Africa, not looking for a headline to sell some news rags.'
He said, as a rule, he avoided media interviews and regretted speaking to The Citizen and before that, other journalists.
'It has brought me nothing but hate and heartache,' he said.
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But Langton said he continued to support the ideals of the UIM and efforts of its leadership.
'I continue to believe the UIM offers a strong platform with dedicated candidates working to improve the lives of South Africans.'
He said his relocation had not changed his hope that ordinary South Africans will one day 'evict the blood suckers that are the current government'.