Prof Amanda Gouws: 'AfriForum doesn't represent all Afrikaners, and some Afrikaners like me are offended'

Respected political analyst, Professor Amanda Gouws says the multiple campaigns by lobby groups AfriForum and Solidarity in the United States undermine the South African government, and will bear negative consequences for South Africa.

Last month, IOL reported that lobby groups AfriForum and Solidarity have faced unprecedented backlash in South Africa, after US President Donald Trump unleashed a raft of sanctions against South Africa, including cutting financial aid.

Several groups and individuals have opened police cases against Solidarity and AfriForum, insisting that the lobby groups must be charged with treason, following their campaigns in the United States calling for action against South Africa’s transformation and expropriation laws.

In an interview with broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, University of Stellenbosch academic, Gouws said the consequences of Trump’s sanctions will affect all South Africans, particularly the poor communities.

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“I think the fact that AfriForum went to the United States to speak to President Trump’s administration is really deeply undermining of the South African government, and it has very serious consequences. It will have implications for all of us, the worst for the poorest of the poor. In that sense, it’s really betraying the sovereignty of the South African nation,” she said. 

“Of course, we cannot say certain groups cannot have freedom of speech. In a democracy, everybody has freedom of speech but you also have to look at what the limits of that speech are, and when that speech becomes a way undermining the government, when it becomes hate speech and so on.”

Gouws recommended that there should be broad conversations in South Africa, including AfriForum and other formations.

“AfriForum does not represent all white Afrikaners. I think there are white Afrikaners, including myself, that’s quite offended by what has happened now and the very serious consequences it has for South Africa. Short of denying groups freedom of speech, there needs to be constructive engagement with these groups where we can work on a political programme, where everybody can raise the issues they have,” she said.

Gouws added that the existence of the Government of National Unity presents greater opportunity for different groups to raise their issues to the government.

“So why go around that? Why do you think you should go straight to the US to get another sovereign country to intervene in the sovereignty of South Africa? I just don't think that is acceptable,” she said.

On Friday, IOL reported that Democratic Alliance and the Solidarity Movement’s recent trips to the United States may have been triggered by the same set of events but they were not intended to kiss Trump’s ring.

The Solidarity Movement, which includes AfriForum, returned triumphantly from the US this week and the movement indicated that it has been engaging with the American government for 21 years.

Jaco Kleynhans, the Solidarity Movement’s head of international liaison, said they did not see the engagement with the US as an event but rather an ongoing process.

“We have built strong relationships over the years that now give us access to the White House, Congress, and various government departments. Trump's statements and focus on South Africa are partly due to our many years of engagement but also due to the SA government's total neglect of relations with the US,” he said.

Kleynhans added that the Solidarity Movement made important suggestions during its visit and believes that this will bear fruit over the next few months.

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jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

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