Trump cash! AfriForum in line for US funding

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to award South African civil rights organisation AfriForum nearly US$1 million (about R17 million) to investigate alleged discrimination and violence against Afrikaners and other minority groups in South Africa.

According to an investigation by News24, the proposed funding is part of a broader effort by US President Donald Trump’s administration to support Afrikaner organisations, amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Pretoria.

The funding, estimated at US$986,500, would come from the US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour and would be used to document what the administration describes as hateful rhetoric and violent acts against minority communities.

An investigation by ProPublica revealed that the funding was initially intended for Lex Libertas, an organisation established by former AfriForum executive Ernst Roets, before the State Department opened the application process to other organisations.

Human rights

However, AfriForum is now reportedly the intended recipient, although the organisation says the allocation has not been finalised.

“Our understanding is that the allocation has not yet been finalised. Should the allocation indeed be awarded to AfriForum, we will make a public announcement in this regard,” the organisation said.

SABC News also reported on the proposed award, noting that the US State Department had not publicly confirmed the funding decision.

The proposed grant has raised concerns among former US officials and Democratic lawmakers, particularly over the transparency of the process and the decision to direct human rights funding towards an organisation whose claims about the persecution of white South Africans remain contested.

ProPublica quoted former US State Department official David Jandura, who criticised the decision, saying: “It’s offensive to provide funding solely to this one group after we’ve cut off funding in countries undergoing real documented crises.”

Deteriorating diplomatic relations

South African academics and independent researchers have also challenged claims that Afrikaners are being systematically targeted. While farm attacks and murders remain a serious concern, official government statistics and previous investigations have not established a pattern of targeted violence against white South Africans.

The proposed funding comes against the backdrop of deteriorating diplomatic relations between South Africa and the United States, following Trump’s claims of widespread persecution of white farmers and his administration’s decision to cut aid to South Africa.

AfriForum, which advocates for Afrikaner rights and self-governance, has been among the organisations engaging the Trump administration over its concerns about racial discrimination and farm attacks.

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Picture: afriforum / X

Source: African Insider / Betha Madhomu