Expert says US report on Human Rights has lost creditability

The latest US State Department’s report on Human Rights violations in South Africa has been widely criticized, with legal experts and government officials denouncing it as politically biased and inaccurate.

Human Rights lawyer, Sheldon Magardie, says it’s unfortunate that the reports, which were once a trusted and well-known research tool, have become politicized.

Margardie says this has become evident, particularly under US President Donald Trump’s administration.

The annual document which released yesterday, accusses the South African government of moving toward land expropriation targeting Afrikaners and failing to investigate alleged abuses against racial minorities.

It is also claimed in the report that officials implicated in human rights violations were not prosecuted.

Magardie dismissed the document as riddled with falsehoods and said it lacks credibility.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) echoed this sentiment, issuing a strongly worded statement rejecting what it called a deeply flawed report.

“The report’s reliance on a-contextual information and discredited accounts is highly concerning. It cites an incident involving the deaths of farm workers and, despite the matter being actively adjudicated by our independent judiciary, misleadingly presents it as an extrajudicial killing.”

Media Statement

South Africa rejects inaccurate and deeply flawed account of Human Rights Practices.

More: https://t.co/XyhvDruPBp

— DIRCO South Africa (@DIRCO_ZA) August 13, 2025

International human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, also criticized the report, stating that the U.S. appears willing to overlook certain human rights abuses.

The report comes just a day after Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Parks Tau, alongside Agriculture Minister, John Steenhuisen, announced that they will submit a revised trade deal offer to the United States.

The offer is part of the government’s response to the 30% tariff imposed by the US on SA exports, which came into effect last week.