Latest news with #PieterKriel
IOL News
31-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
The struggle for Palestinian rights: Insights from Pieter Kriel's visit to Palestine
Inside the occupied territories: Pieter Kriel's call for solidarity for Palestinians. Image: X / @pieterkrielorg As Israel continues its attacks on Palestinians, including weaponised starvation, South African activist Pieter Kriel recently went to the occupied territories to witness the Zionist state's violence in the West Bank, Ramallah, Nablus, Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jerusalem. "I went to Palestine because injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, solidarity demands that we bear witness," Kriel said. "Israel doesn't want eyes on its occupation. We entered on tourist visas and worked closely with local NGOs who guided us through checkpoints and military zones." The 21-year-old went on the perilous journey with a coalition of South African and Palestinian activists, independent journalists, and worked alongside a UN convoy. On the Israeli-imposed checkpoints, Kriel said he was humiliated but not at the level a Palestinian would be. "Even for us, outsiders with passports, privilege, and the option to leave, it was tense and difficult. But for Palestinians, this is daily life. What is a checkpoint for me is a cage for them. What is an inconvenience for us is an unending nightmare for them. That contrast alone exposes the brutal apartheid," he added. The United Nations (UN) said in May that it identified roughly 850 Israeli checkpoints, gates, and other physical barriers across the occupied Palestinian territory, the largest number recorded in the previous two decades. "Findings recorded nearly 850 checkpoints, gates and other physical obstacles, the highest number documented in any of the 16 surveys the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has conducted over the past two decade," said UN spokesperson Farhan Haq. Kriel said he saw Palestinian families denied water, electricity cut on a whim, children "corralled in checkpoints" like cattle, homes bulldozed, and a creeping climate of fear. He described Israel's actions against Palestine as a systematic dispossession and ethnic cleansing. "Apartheid South Africa institutionalised segregation, land grabs and pass laws to control a majority," Kriel said. "Israel's checkpoints, separation barrier and settler enclaves do the same to Palestinians. Both systems rely on 'security' pretexts to justify land theft and daily humiliation." In a move that stunned the world, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the European nation would recognise a Palestinian state in September. "True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the state of Palestine," Macron posted on X. "We must build the state of Palestine, ensure its viability, and ensure that by accepting its demilitarisation and fully recognising Israel, it contributes to the security of all in the Middle East. There is no alternative." However, Kriel sees this as an attempt to save face as worldwide protests for Palestine continue. "Europe's sudden compassion is cynical. They boycotted Russia but left Palestinians to languish. The truth is that public outrage forced them to change course, proof that pressure works, but their delay cost thousands of lives. Genocide isn't hyperbole when civilians are starved, bombed, and denied medical aid." Kriel added that the road ahead is not through polite negotiations or a hollow peace process, but it's genuine, consistent, worldwide pressure, including boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS). "Cut military aid and isolate Israel like we did apartheid South Africa. End the occupation, dismantle the settlements, and guarantee equal rights. This isn't complicated; it's about ending a racist, colonial regime. Palestinians don't need charity; they need liberation," he said. IOL News
IOL News
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
An Open Letter to Pieter Kriel: Understanding Whiteness and Privilege in Bethlehem
South African social media personality Pieter Kriel. Image: X / @pieterkrielorg Pieter Kriel, the 21-year-old South African TikTok figure whose rise has been built on rapid-fire ChatGPT slogans about whiteness and Black pain, now saunters around the edges of Palestine, a land of grief, siege, and survival, setting the scene for his latest TikTok performance. From a cushioned chair in a Bethlehem hotel, he posted to his followers: 'Bethlehem is a sacred cage where the world comes to worship a baby born under empire, yet ignores the children growing up under occupation.' This is not OK. Pieter Kriel's post on X. Image: Screenshot / X That is why, Pieter, I am writing to you directly. As a prominent race justice activist, I know the terrain you are striding through, though you do not yet understand the weight of it. I know the ego that grows from the eros, the praise, poured onto those whites who appear to 'get it'. I know how easy it is to mistake applause for wisdom, to let your platform slip from truth into arrogance or paternalism. But when I came into the public eye, I was not twenty-one. By then I was already married to my life partner, Sipho Singiswa, raising a biracial child, learning to grapple with whiteness not as abstract theory but as intimate daily reality inside a Black family. Before those years, in the 1980s, when I was your age, I was a cultural activist. I was signing leases for suburban communes where Black musicians and artists could live, places where they could step into the economy of town performances under the nose of apartheid law. When we were evicted, we found another lease and carried on. I gravitated to the jazz and political underground, where people of all skin shades gathered, defying the disgusted gaze of the white state. Later, I trudged through township streets and squatter camps, walked through communities ravaged by mines and extractive industries, documenting harm, holding a camera for those whose voices were buried under power. I spent years doing video advocacy in places that were ignored and erased. I had this access because I was working alongside Sipho. It was Sipho who sat for hours, listening to the stories of Marikana widows, miners, and children who had lost their fathers in the massacre, listening in their own language, with no interpreter, no posture, no spectacle. It was then that I realised I was far more useful behind the scenes, as the film editor, shaping the testimony we gathered, rather than imposing my whiteness onto a landscape where my presence was just white skin — interruptive, uncomfortable, a distortion. There is a violence in forcing people to speak the pain caused by white power in the presence of whiteness. Learn when to step out, Pieter. After I took race justice and critical race theory to newspapers, I quickly ended up with two files fat with death threats and smear campaigns, now retired into archives at the SAHRC. I have been followed, stalked, recorded, threatened, and destabilised by the far right. I have been no-platformed by the liberal gatekeeping class, rendered ungovernable and untouchable by the very institutions that claim to champion freedom. But I never centred that. I did not have the energy to, and I did not have the resources to fight this. Our work was never monetised. I am only naming it now because we lost our son to suicide, a tragedy shaped in part by the deluge of false media narratives, by public calls to have me tried and arrested by a culture of punishment that played out in the full glare of a public hungry for blood. I want to heal my complex PTSD. I want justice for my brown boy child who, as a teenager, watched the world close in on his parents. Pieter, I tell you this so you understand that I am not speaking to you from theory. I am speaking to you from survival. You are simply not experienced enough to understand the depth of wounding whiteness can inflict on people not protected by white skin, even from the most well-meaning of us. Your post, sent from Bethlehem, from inside the cage of empire that you occupy through your white privilege, your passport, your ability to move freely, is the height of white arrogance. Bethlehem is not the Bethlehem of your Sunday school books or European art. It is the Bethlehem of ʿĪsā ibn Maryam, Jesus son of Mary, born of Maryam, held by Yūsuf, names still carried on the tongues of Palestinian Christians and Muslims alike. It is the birthplace of a brown-skinned child under Roman rule, a child marked by poverty, empire, and resistance. Before 1948, Bethlehem was a city where Christians, Muslims, and Jews lived alongside one another, sharing land, work, weddings, funerals, and memory. That world was torn apart by the Nakba, when Zionist militias stormed Palestinian homes, drove families into exile, and began the long, choking suffocation that today hems Bethlehem in. The apartheid wall cuts through its landscape. Illegal settlements spread across its hills. Military checkpoints sever its roads. Soldiers watch its streets. At its heart stands the Church of the Nativity, built in the fourth century by Helena, mother of Constantine, over the cave where Maryam is believed to have given birth to ʿĪsā. It is the oldest Christian church still in use, its walls darkened by candle smoke, its stones shaped by the knees and hands of centuries of worshippers. It bears the scars of the 2002 siege, when Israeli soldiers surrounded it, leaving bullet holes still visible. For the few Palestinian Christians left, the church is not a monument. It is survival. It is breath. It is a memory of belonging in a land that has never been allowed peace. And yet you sit there, Pieter, in your hotel chair, composing your post. You centre yourself. You wrap Bethlehem around your performance of atheism, as if your personal rejection of faith is relevant here, as if the mothers whispering Maryam's name over their dead, or the children holding onto the memory of ʿĪsā as a face like theirs, need your existential rebellion. I too fell into the trap, Pieter. I too mocked organised religion in my early years, imagining this was a mark of free thinking, not fully grasping that for those oppressed by whiteness, God is not always the white-bearded adversarial patriarch of European lore. God is the name called upon in the dark. God is the effigy that carries brown or black skin. God is sometimes the emancipatory presence when the state and the oligarchs have taken everything else. You do realise that sitting centre stage and telling people what to think or believe is just another form of toxic white patriarchy. It is hard not to see you. Even though I do not follow you every time I open my social media, there you are. But we have not yet seen you in Gaza, Pieter. We have not seen you at the places of danger, at the rubble heaps where families are clawing through debris to find their children, at the refugee camps where hunger hangs in the air. We have hardly seen Nkosi Zulu, the fellow podcaster you travel with, because you have, it seems, centred yourself. You have placed yourself in the frame, made this about your musings, your performance, your moment. So here is my advice to you. If you want to step into the crisis of meaning among Black youth, enter it with care. Understand that this crisis is not abstract. It is the crisis of growing up in a world that markets Blackness as cool but locks Black people out of power. It is the crisis of living with betrayals — by families, by leaders, by movements that promised transformation but handed down exhaustion. It is the ache of inherited trauma, the daily dissonance of being told to survive with dignity in a world built to break you. It is the pain of watching White people like you monetise their pain, presenting as hashtag revolutionaries while the poorest Black lives remain ungrievable. Do not mouth back at Black people what they already know or should think or believe just because you imagine your mind is so advanced. If you are going to enter this terrain, acknowledge the voices from whom you borrow your theory. Reference them. Honour them. We veterans know that not one original idea has come out of your strident, confident, know-it-all posture. To step into this fragile and painful space and position yourself as philosopher, as guide, as mouthpiece, begins to feel like decoy politics. Your white presence on the safe edges of Gaza, your curated benevolence, carries the stale scent of white settler colonialism, of benevolence politics we have long outgrown. We have long passed the stage where white boys in crisp shirts and borrowed slogans get to stand on occupied terrain and tell people how to feel about their ancient cultural and spiritual beliefs, as if their personal crisis of faith carries more weight than centuries of survival, as if their intellectual swagger counts for more than ancestral memory. If you truly care, take your seat at the back. Read. Listen. Name your sources. Understand the responsibility that comes with speaking in public. Understand that solidarity is not built on your centre stage. It is built where you are unseen, where others lead, where you stop feeding on spectacle and start dismantling the need for it. Explore the implications of privilege and race in Bethlehem as Gillian Schutte addresses Pieter Kriel's controversial TikTok post, challenging the narratives surrounding occupation and identity. Image: IOL * Gillian Schutte is a South African writer, filmmaker, and social justice activist. Her work interrogates systems of power, capitalism, patriarchy, and whiteness, and is rooted in the defence of the commons, decolonial justice, and the dignity of all life. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.
The South African
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Pieter Kriel receieves death threats over 'Afrikaner refugee' views
Social justice commentator Pieter Kriel, whose videos about Afrikaner refugees and systematic racism in South Africa have gone viral, has received death threats from the public. The white human rights activist has often come under fire from members of his own community. Speaking to the SABC, Pieter Kriel revealed that his unpopular views about Afrikaner refugees have resulted in death threats against him. This comes amid the blonde and blue-eyed social media influencer's quest to call out 'misinformation' about South Africa. According to the young Afrikaner, he has received threats from his own community. He said, 'It just shows how necessary this work is. We need to educate people that South Africa has a national crime crisis that affects disadvantaged communities as well as farmers. 'It's not an isolated case on farms; it affects everyone. That is why we need to speak out, even if safety is sometimes compromised. ' In several X posts, Pieter Kriel has also called out his critics, whom he has often labelled 'racist'. He posted: 'The right doesn't hate me because I'm wrong, they hate me because I've shattered the fragile fantasy that they were supposed to lead. This isn't criticism. It's jealousy dressed as political relevance'. Also in the interview, Pieter Kriel called out the Afrikaner 'refugees' for promoting a 'false narrative' about South Africa, which he believes would 'create chaos on a global scale' and ultimately place the country under 'economic pressure'. He said: 'When we look at the type of white South Africans who have applied for refugee status and have gone, in my opinion, it is not the best of South Africans we want to represent us at a national level. In another clip, Pieter Kriel shamed Afrikaner 'refugees', who 'ran away to the US'. He said of the 49 white South Africans: 'You are not escaping violence, you are escaping equality. South Africa didnt chase you away, you ran. 'Violence affects all communities, not just white farmers. What we have is a breakdown in safety, not a white genocide. This is not ethnic cleansing, it is criminal collapse. And running to the US won't fix it.' He confidently added: 'You are part of a 7% minority, but somehow still manage to control over 70% of the wealth. That is not persecution, that is privilege on a guilt trip. 'You are not brave, you are not victims. You are scared of a world where you don't get to be in charge'. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
TimesLIVE
19-05-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
'I'm not related to Kallie Kriel, I'm his antithesis': Pieter Kriel distances himself from AfriForum CEO
South African activist Pieter Kriel has publicly distanced himself from AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel, emphasising they share no connection, neither familial nor ideological. In a social media post, Kriel stated: 'I'm not related to Kallie Kriel, I'm his antithesis. I don't fight for preservation — I fight for transformation. I don't romanticise apartheid, I want to bury it. I stand for unity, not segregation. Stop lumping me with fossils.' Pieter Kriel, known for his outspoken views, also denounced the notion of a 'white genocide' in South Africa, labelling it a myth designed to incite fear. He pointed out that while white South Africans make up just 7% of the population, they still control 70% of the country's resources, arguing that the real issue is not violence but resistance to equality. He criticised those who promote the genocide narrative while ignoring global issues, saying: 'If you cry 'genocide' where it doesn't exist and stay silent while Gaza burns, you're just a coward with wi-fi.' Meanwhile, Kallie Kriel has said he has never heard of Pieter Kriel or encountered any grassroots support for his views. 'It seems he is just another social media warrior desperate for fame. I don't give attention or respond to social media warriors with no support base who are simply looking for attention. The same applies to Pieter,' he said.
IOL News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Who is Pieter Kriel? Young activist shakes up SA's political landscape with controversial views on race
Pieter Kriel: The young activist challenging South Africa's political norms. Image: Supplied Pieter Kriel, a 21-year-old political dynamo, has burst into the scene with explosive and divisive opinions and South Africa and the globe have taken note. Kriel, positioning himself as the antithesis of Kallie Kriel, the chief executive of AfriForum, has made a significant impact in South Africa's political arena with his left-leaning views. In an interview with IOL, he shared that from a young age, he envisioned a future in leadership or advocacy roles. "Something between philosopher, politician, and public voice. I've always wanted to fight for what's just," Kriel said. "I'm a humanist. I believe in human dignity, internationalism, unity, and justice. I advocate for equality, African integration, wealth redistribution, post-nationalism, and social realism. I'm against both racial superiority and racial ignorance. I support decolonisation in both structure and mindset." He began his plunge into politics in 2018 when he became an atheist and started questioning all systems of power, including political, religious, and historical. The young man idolises Thomas Sankara, Steve Biko, Christopher Hitchens, George Orwell, and said he enjoys some of Karl Marx's ideas, but denied being a Marxist. In a recent article by IOL, Kriel shared his views on the Afrikaner exodus to the US, asserting that the 49 individuals involved were not fleeing racial persecution but rather seeking equality. His comments sparked significant backlash on social media, drawing criticism from various quarters, including voices from the US. "To the Americans foaming at the mouth because I dared to speak the truth, I don't owe you an apology. America has never apologised for being the global blueprint of hypocrisy for slavery, invasion, regime changes and mass incarcerations. "To the Afrikaners clutching their pearls; the fact that my own community is attacking me with more rage than they did for apartheid, shows the work I'm doing matters, and I'm not here to comfort you, I'm here to expose you. I will not back off." Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ One recurring criticism of Kriel is that his voice is elevated being he is a white man. He claimed that this is true and that he benefits from privilege compared to his black contemporaries. "I understand the suspicion that I am propping myself up as a white saviour," Kriel said. "But I don't speak for black South Africans. I speak with and alongside them. My goal isn't to 'save anyone. It's to tear down the myths that keep us divided." The activist added that he also has political ambitions, but not those of the traditional kind. "I want to build grassroots, youth-driven, Pan-African humanist movement. Whether that becomes formal politics or stays activist-based is still to be seen. I'm growing my platform, organising, and preparing for the long game. I'll be active on the ground, not just online. I want to raise a generation of thinkers, not just followers. The goal is justice. Real, material, irreversible justice." IOL Politics Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
