The local reaction to the executive order issued by US President Donald Trump on 7 February 2025 regarding “egregious actions” by the South African government was an immediate search for scapegoats and whipping boys within South Africa. The ANC’s secretary-general promptly accused AfriForum and Solidarity of spreading “misinformation” regarding a “genocide” against Afrikaans-speaking farmers. A large segment of the media and the commentariat subsequently declared us “guilty” – without a shred of evidence – of being responsible for the deteriorating relations with the USA, which could severely harm South Africa and its people.
Numerous media outlets have already had to apologise to us for claiming that we had gone to Washington to propagate stories about a “genocide.” Dr Oscar van Heerden’s article from last week continued in the same vein of casting aspersions on AfriForum and Solidarity.
The MK Party even accused us of high treason; we were charged with undermining the state, showing contempt for the Constitution, and advocating for sanctions against South Africa – along with many other lies spread about us.
The facts
What are the facts? Representatives from the USA have been in regular contact with the Solidarity Movement – of which AfriForum is a part – since the Obama presidency. During the Biden era, we observed that opposition to the South African government was building within the US administration, originating from both Republican and Democratic ranks. It became clear to us that our country’s participation in AGOA could be jeopardised, which, by our estimates, could result in the loss of approximately 250 000 jobs.
We also realised that South Africa’s diplomatic engagement in the USA had not yielded the desired results. Consequently, acting in the national interest, we decided to compile comprehensive reports on the importance of AGOA and distribute them to decision-makers in the USA. Our message was simple: do not punish the country and its people simply because you disagree with the ANC.
In July 2024, the Solidarity Movement, together with other Afrikaner organisations, issued an Afrikaner Declaration in which we clearly stated that we are patriotic South Africans committed to helping build a future for the country and all its people. At the same time, we expressed our desire to develop and preserve our language and culture by exercising the relevant constitutional rights and making use of the space provided for such purposes. We received no response to our requests for discussions and cooperation with the government.
Our stance
It is necessary to place certain core stances of the Solidarity Movement on the record:
- We do not long for the past under the NP, nor do we look forward to the future under the ANC;
- We disagree with the ANC, but we love the country and its people;
- We support the sovereignty of South Africa, but do not believe in the sovereignty of the ANC. Differences with the USA should be addressed by the GNU as a whole.
- We choose the interests of South Africa over those of the White House or Luthuli House;
- We believe that South Africa should pursue a non-aligned foreign policy and that the national interest must always take precedence over loyalties and alliances dating from the Cold War era;
- We believe that good relations between South Africa and the USA are in the national interest and that an understanding between the two governments is possible, provided the political will exists.
- If relations deteriorate further, it is workers and ordinary people who will suffer, not the ruling elite;
- We refuse to serve as a scapegoat, a punching bag, or a political lightning rod for the government’s failed diplomacy and policies;
- We reject attempts by radical politicians to vent their anger toward Mr Trump on us;
- The only “misinformation” campaign was the claim that we were spreading “misinformation” in the USA;
- We are not involved in the refugee programme, as we believe that the future of Afrikaners lies in South Africa. Consequently, we are striving to create conditions that will allow Afrikaners to remain sustainably in South Africa, enabling us to make a lasting contribution to the well-being of the country and all its people;
- We are firmly committed to preserving our language and culture and passing them on to future generations.
The Solidarity Movement is a patriotic South African and Afrikaner movement that strives for mutual recognition and respect among everyone in the country.
By Flip Buys, chairperson of the Solidarity Movement
