South African Party Files Treason Complaint Against AfriForum Amid Trump Controversy
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – In a dramatic escalation of tensions surrounding South Africa’s contentious land reform policies, the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, associated with former President Jacob Zuma, has lodged a treason complaint against AfriForum, an Afrikaner advocacy group. This move follows comments made by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who criticized South Africa’s new law aimed at redistributing land owned by white farmers.
The MK party’s complaint, filed on February 10, 2025, at the Cape Town Central police station, accuses AfriForum of disseminating misinformation to influence Trump’s stance on South Africa’s land expropriation act. This law, which allows for the seizure of land without compensation in certain cases, is part of the government’s efforts to address historical injustices stemming from apartheid.
Trump’s recent executive order, which cuts financial assistance to South Africa, cites the land reform law and the South African government’s legal actions against Israel at the International Court of Justice as justifications. The former president’s administration has suggested that Afrikaners could qualify for refugee status in the U.S., a claim that has been met with skepticism by the South African government and various political factions.
The MK party, which has gained traction as a populist opposition force, argues that AfriForum’s lobbying efforts in the U.S. are part of a broader campaign to undermine the South African government. “Treason has been committed, we contend, by them, because they are plotting against our government,” stated John Hlophe, the party’s parliamentary leader, after filing the complaint.
In response, AfriForum’s CEO Kallie Kriel dismissed the treason allegations as “absurd,” asserting that it is the responsibility of civil society to scrutinize legislation that may threaten the welfare of citizens. The group has long opposed the land reform law, framing it as an infringement on property rights and actively campaigning against it in international forums.
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) has also criticized AfriForum for its role in shaping Trump’s views but has refrained from pursuing legal action against the group. The National Prosecuting Authority will ultimately decide whether to pursue the treason complaint, based on evidence provided by the police.
The land reform issue remains a flashpoint in South Africa, where white farmers control approximately 75% of privately held land, despite making up only 8% of the population. The government’s efforts to rectify these disparities have sparked fierce debate and highlighted the deep-seated racial and economic inequalities that persist in the country three decades after the end of apartheid.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, the MK party’s actions reflect a growing frustration with both domestic and international narratives surrounding land reform, as well as a determination to assert its influence in South Africa’s complex socio-political environment.
Reference
South African Party Files Treason Complaint Against AfriForum Amid Trump Controversy