Black Forum calls for treason charges against AfriForum
Black Forum South Africa strongly believes AfriForum should be charged with treason following allegations of spreading misinformation about the newly adopted Expropriation Act.
The forum's head of communication Shatadi Phoshoko said the lobby group's actions of promoting divisive narratives undermines the country’s democratic fabric.
“They are engaging in a campaign where they spread information that South Africa is taking their land and all of that. We see it as a threat to the independence and sovereignty of the country,” Phoshoko said.
He said that AfriForum could have engaged the issue of expropriation more democratically by approaching President Cyril Ramaphosa to solve the matter domestically without involving other countries.
“We have not engaged with legal experts, we are as a team discussing the prospects of success, and it is for this reason that we have not laid any charges,” Phoshoko said.
“There should be consequence management that is taken against AfriForum. We might find other ways to deal with the matter. The issue is not that we want to accelerate the division among us as a nation, however, we are looking for a solution to address and solve the issue,” he added.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order last Friday aimed at freezing assistance to South Africa. The order also makes provision for the resettlement in the U.S. of "Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination" as refugees.
The South African government criticised the executive order, saying it was based on misinformation and distortions.
The uMkhoto Wesizwe Party has since filed a case of treason against AfriForum.
The MK Party’s deputy president, Dr. John Hlophe has accused AfriForum of weaponizing foreign influence against South Africa, by spreading misinformation about the Expropriation Act.
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