Kallie Kriel Says AfriForum Differs From Donald Trump on White Genocide Claims, SA Left Divided

• AfriForum Chief Executive Officer Kallie Kriel weighed in on US President Donald Trump's use of the term 'white genocide'
• Kriel argued the controversial phrase risks causing people to downplay the severity of violent crime against South Africa's farming communities
• Kriel's comments about Trump's claims sparked varied reactions on social media, as people were left divided by his stance

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.

GAUTENG — Kallie Kriel has stated that AfriForum takes a different position from United States President Donald Trump on the use of the term "white genocide,".

The AfriForum Chief Executive Officer insisted that most Afrikaners have no intention of leaving South Africa during a conversation with Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast.

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The wide-ranging discussion covered AfriForum's relationship with the Trump administration, farm murders, and the organisation's future in South Africa.

AfriForum reaffirms commitment to South Africa

When the United States proposed resettling Afrikaners as refugees, Kriel said AfriForum's response was unambiguous.

"If people want to leave the country, we respect that. But when this was announced, we said that we are committed to this country. We are here to stay," Kriel stated.

Kriel also argued that the debate surrounding Trump's language has created a secondary problem. He believes the use of the term "white genocide" could cause some people to trivialise the genuine threat of violent crime faced by farming communities.

AfriForum has long called for farm murders to be classified and treated as a priority crime. Kriel was careful to clarify that prioritising farm murders does not mean dismissing other forms of violent crime.

He acknowledged that South Africa is a broadly violent country and that different categories of crime require tailored responses.

On AfriForum's relationship with Washington, Kriel said the organisation does not seek confrontation with the Trump administration on every issue, but feels obligated to engage when American policy decisions carry consequences for South Africa.

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AfriForum and Solidarity have previously held meetings with Trump administration officials in Washington, where they called for targeted pressure on specific individuals in South Africa rather than sweeping punitive measures against the country as a whole.

How did South Africans react?

South Africans reacted to Kriel's remarks on social media, with many questioning whether his latest position represented a shift from his previous stance.

Mbongie Gift wrote:

"He is changing tune? Ehhe."

Albert Du Plessis commented:

"Kallie lit the fire, and now he says it wasn't me."

Trevor Godfrey Cupido offered a different read:

"Thank you. There you have it. Now it was about farm murders and not about a white genocide. The white genocide was driven by racists and uninformed people to create a false narrative and exploit the situation."

Julian Cloete pushed back on that narrative:

"He always said there was no white genocide. He has said violent crime is out of control and affects all races and colours."

Fred Mahlobo asked:

"Kanti, who told Trump about it?"

What you need to know about claims made against South Africa

• Donald Trump deleted a tweet claiming that South Africa was a dangerous place.
• The US State Department has explained why it is unhappy with South Africa at the moment.
• The US President offered citizenship to farmers and their families if they don’t feel safe in South Africa.
• Trump claimed that South Africa had a policy of exterminating people, which is why he would not attend the G20.

Source: Briefly News