- AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel responded to President Cyril Ramaphosa's remarks about South Africans seeking refuge in the US
- Kriel accused Ramaphosa of signing the Expropriation Act with full knowledge of its potential consequences for the economy
- Kriel also drew a direct link between the Act's signing in January 2025 and US measures against South Africa announced later
Source: Getty Images
Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has spent a decade reporting on South Africa's political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online journalism.
GAUTENG — AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel has publicly rebuked President Cyril Ramaphosa, accusing him of being the source of unpatriotic behaviour following the president's criticism of South Africans who have sought refuge in the United States.
Ramaphosa recently described it as "unbelievable" that some South Africans continue to hold and promote what he characterised as falsehoods about the country, including claims of a white genocide.
US President Donald Trump offered citizenship to farmers and their families if they don’t feel safe in South Africa, leading to many Afrikaners in particular leaving the country. Kriel responded directly on X to Ramaphosa's comments, redirecting the accusation of unpatriotism back at the president.
Kriel links Expropriation Act to US measures
In his post, Kriel argued that Ramaphosa's decision to sign the Expropriation Act, which provides for expropriation without compensation, was itself damaging to South Africa's economic stability and foreign relations.
He pointed to a sequence of events he said was not coincidental: Ramaphosa signed the Act on 23 January 2025, and the United States announced measures against South Africa just ten days later, on 2 February 2025.
Kriel invoked Zimbabwe as a cautionary example, arguing that a government's disregard for property rights had historically led to poverty, hyperinflation, mass unemployment, and citizens fleeing into neighbouring countries, including South Africa itself.
AfriForum calls for collaboration over blame
Rather than trading accusations, Kriel said AfriForum and its affiliate organisations, including Solidarity and the broader Solidarity Movement, had already presented constructive proposals to Ramaphosa aimed at resolving the ongoing dispute with Washington.
He called on the president to engage with those willing to help, rather than continuing what he described as a pattern of deflecting responsibility onto civil society organisations such as AfriForum.
Kriel stated that AfriForum remains committed to helping find a resolution that serves the interests of all South Africans, but expressed frustration that Ramaphosa appeared more focused on assigning blame than on collaborative problem-solving.
The AfriForum CEO's remarks reflect the deepening tensions between the South African government and civil society groups over land reform legislation and its diplomatic fallout.
AfriForum welcomes US visa restrictions
Briefly News reported that Kriel weighed in on the new visa restrictions imposed upon certain individuals in South Africa.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced visa restrictions on 15 September targeting South Africans linked to race-based discrimination.
AfriForum placed responsibility on the South African government, saying it failed to act on the Expropriation Act and the 'Kill the Boer' chant.
Source: Briefly News