The African National Congress (ANC) has condemned the misinformation campaign spearheaded by AfriForum, which has now gained traction through US President Donald Trump.
The ANC asserts that AfriForum’s claims of "land confiscation" are false and are part of an orchestrated effort to mislead the global community while protecting apartheid-era land ownership patterns.
AfriForum, a lobby group advocating for white minority interests, has been accused of using fear-mongering tactics to obstruct South Africa’s lawful land reform programme.
“Their campaign is not about justice but about blocking economic transformation and maintaining an oppressive status quo,” said ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri.
The ANC argues that AfriForum has deliberately misrepresented South Africa’s Expropriation Act, which is designed as a fair and constitutional measure to address historical land dispossession. By spreading misinformation abroad, the group has emboldened individuals who lack understanding of South Africa’s democratic processes yet perpetuate racist narratives.
“It is unacceptable that AfriForum continues to seek external intervention against a sovereign country's domestic policies — policies that are necessary to address the legacy of land dispossession caused by colonialism and apartheid,” Bhengu-Motsiri said.
While President Cyril Ramaphosa remains committed to engaging with international partners on matters of mutual interest, the ANC insists that it will not tolerate “racist distortions aimed at undermining our national sovereignty and transformation agenda”.
The ANC called on progressive forces, both locally and globally, to reject AfriForum’s divisive agenda and support South Africa’s pursuit of justice, equity, and meaningful land reform.
IOL Politics