Africa Watch – No evidence

A South African court has dismissed claims of a “white genocide,” calling them “imagined” and unsupported by crime data. The ruling contradicts statements by US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The court also blocked a $2.1 million donation from Grantland Michael Bray to the white supremacist group Boerelegioen, citing its promotion of racial hatred. Statistics revealed that only 12 people were killed in farm attacks between October and December 2024, with just one being a farmer, compared to 961 women and 273 children murdered in the same period. The court deemed the donation illegal and against public policy.

The South African court’s rejection of “white genocide” claims represents a significant legal and social milestone. By labelling these claims “imagined” and unsupported by crime statistics, the court has dismantled a narrative used to incite racial tensions. Crucially, the court blocked a $2.1 million donation to the Boerelegioen, a white supremacist organisation, due to its promotion of racial hatred. This decision aligns with broader efforts to combat hate speech, a critical issue in a nation still addressing apartheid’s legacy and ongoing racial inequalities.

The ruling’s statistical evidence highlights the disconnect between the “white genocide” myth and reality. During the specified period, only 12 people were killed in farm attacks, with just one being a farmer. This contrasts sharply with the far greater number of women and children murdered during the same timeframe. This statistical disparity underscores the disproportionate focus on farm attacks, often sensationalised to perpetuate the “white genocide” narrative, while the broader issue of violent crime in South Africa is largely overlooked.

This court ruling serves as a direct rebuttal to figures like former US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who have amplified the “white genocide” narrative. Their often-misinformed statements have contributed to the global spread of this harmful myth. By rejecting these claims, the South African judiciary has reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law. While this decision is a blow to racial extremists, it won’t resolve Afrikaner grievances related to land reform, a deeply contentious issue where approximately 70% of farmland remains white-owned.

We anticipate that tighter regulations on hate funding and foreign interference may follow. However, South Africa’s high crime rate, with over 27,000 murders in 2023, remains a critical concern, particularly if economic disparities worsen.

This ruling occurs against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions. Relations between South Africa and the United States have been strained, particularly following South Africa’s refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, joint naval drills with China and Russia, its support for Palestine, and its advocacy for a BRICS currency.

The Trump administration has now signed an executive order halting US foreign assistance to South Africa, citing the country’s new land expropriation law, which permits the seizure of unused or abandoned land without compensation in specific cases, as “unjust racial discrimination” against white Afrikaner farmers. The order also criticised South Africa’s foreign policy, including its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and its ties with Iran. Furthermore, it prioritised the resettlement of Afrikaners as refugees in the US, reinforcing claims of white victimhood. Possible further punitive measures, such as tariffs or targeted sanctions, could disrupt bilateral trade, which reached $20 billion in 2023.

South Africa may respond by accelerating land reforms, relying on support from the Global South. This could lead to an escalating diplomatic confrontation, with South Africa gaining influence in non-aligned blocs, while the US risks further erosion of its soft power in Africa. As these geopolitical tensions rise, economic and strategic stakes are increasing, reshaping global alliances.