The Solidarity Movement says it is concerned about the diplomatic tension between South Africa and the United States. 

A delegation from the movement which includes Afrikaner interest group AfriForum met with representatives of the Trump administration in Washington.

They discussed concerns on issues including the Expropriation Bill which President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law last month. 

Solidarity alleges that the legislation seeks to forcefully take land from white owners.

The movement’s Head of International Liaison, Jaco Kleynhans, explains their stance. 

“We are willing to use our contacts in America to the benefit of all in South Africa. So, I think the accusations of treason are based on false information. We are not in America at the moment to engage with the Trump administration and to the American congress in any way to have anything negative installed against South Africa. Our visit to America is primarily focused to the benefit of the South African economy and the people of South Africa.”

SA-US Relations | AfriForum, Solidarity delegation meets Trump representatives – Sherwin Bryce-Peace elaborates: 

Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa has cautioned AfriForum against creating divisions in the country by seeking intervention from the United States government on South African policies.

“We need to be sending a clear message to them that as far as we are concerned, as proud South Africans, we prefer that we should all stay here and solve our problems. Already, what they are doing has spawned divisions in our nation. That is not a nation-building process—running around the world trying to have your problems solved.”

“You are just sowing divisions because then a number of South Africans start looking at others negatively, and I don’t think that is the right way to handle our problems,” adds Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa responds to Solidarity, AfriForum meeting with Trump administration:

-Report by Goitseone Moremi