According to the civil rights organisation AfriForum, the detailed report published by the US State Department\u2019s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor is a breath of fresh air as it confirms the South African government\u2019s persecution of Afrikaners and other minorities. The report, published late yesterday, finds that the human rights situation in South Africa has significantly worsened during the year. It raises concerns about the Expropriation Act, and other abuses against racial minorities in the country, as outlined in the government\u2019s long list of racially discriminatory laws. It also states that the government \u201cdid 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Given the findings in this damning report, it is clear what President Cyril Ramaphosa must do: condemn the \u201cKill the Boer\u201d chant, amend the Expropriation Act, end racially discriminatory laws, and classify farm murders as a priority crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The report warns of significant human rights issues such as the repression of racial minorities, as well as intimidation or harassment of civil society groups for expressing opinions critical of the government. The latter is likely referring to the high treason investigation that was launched into AfriForum for the organisations criticism of the government\u2019s extremist policies and rhetoric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The report\u2019s focus on the threat to private property rights posed by the Expropriation Act, alongside strong criticism of \u201ccountless government policies designed to dismantle equal opportunity in employment, education, and business, and extreme rhetoric and government actions fuelling disproportionate violence against racially disfavoured landowners\u201d is justified, factual and welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AfriForum is also encouraged to see that the report casts a spotlight on farm murders and the \u201cKill the Boer\u201d chant. The report, furthermore, states that in recent years the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) encouraged attacks on Afrikaner farmers, reviving the use of the song \u201cKill the Boer\u201d at its rallies and otherwise inciting violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The release of this report comes amid a deepening diplomatic crisis between the US government and the South African government. In reaction to the findings, AfriForum again calls on the President to condemn the \u201cKill the Boer\u201d chant and to take concrete steps to stop human rights abuses and policies targeting Afrikaners and other minorities. Without decisive action in this regard, the relationship with the US cannot be salvaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Ernst van Zyl, Head of Public Relations at AfriForum, the South African government\u2019s knee-jerk denialism in the face of this damning report is shameful. \u201cThe past few months\u2019 diplomatic crisis should have taught the ANC-led government that denying the existence of real issues will not save the relationship with the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf the President and the ANC-led government do not address the issues raised, they must take full responsibility for the US\u2019s high tariffs against South Africa and the worsening diplomatic relationship. The President\u2019s refusal to address these issues fail the people of South Africa by placing the ANC\u2019s extremist ideology and race-obsession above the interests of the country and its citizens,\u201d Van Zyl concludes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n