US-South Africa tensions | AfriForum pins blame on Ramaphosa, denies ‘disinformation’

Lobby group, AfriForum, has accused President Cyril Ramaphosa and senior ANC leaders of being directly responsible for South Africa’s strained relationship with the United States.

This follows Ramaphosa’s recent assertion that a “disinformation campaign” inside the country is fuelling diplomatic tensions.

These people who are spreading disinformation are endangering and undermining South Africa’s national interests, destroying South African jobs and weakeningour country’s relations with one of our most important partners. https://t.co/HRacDDMneg

— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) November 30, 2025

AfriForum CEO, Kallie Kriel, says the President is deflecting from the consequences of his administration’s own decisions.

“During his speech, Ramaphosa attempted to portray the crisis as the result of so-called disinformation,” Kriel said. “The truth is there is a direct connection between his signing of the Expropriation Act on 23 January and President Donald Trump’s decision only 10 days later to withdraw US funding due, among other things, to the disregard for property rights in the country.”

Kriel also highlighted the impact of the BELA Act, which he says threatens the survival of Afrikaans schools and cultural communities.

“This sent a strong message to the US that Afrikaans-speaking minorities are being targeted. The message is reinforced by the fact that Ramaphosa still refuses to condemn the ‘Kill the Boer’ call for ethnic violence against Afrikaners,” he added.

Addressing Ramaphosa’s disinformation claims, Kriel questioned why no individuals or groups have been named.

“Media institutions that attempted to accuse AfriForum of disinformation have already had to officially apologise on eight occasions for spreading lies about us,” he said.

Drawing parallels with Zimbabwe, Kriel warned that undermining property rights could trigger “misery and mass displacement.” He insisted AfriForum’s opposition to expropriation without compensation is motivated by “loyalty to South Africa.”

“Those who dismiss the threat of the Expropriation Act as disinformation are acting disloyally towards the people of this country,” Kriel added.

Meanwhile, South Africans have taken to social media to react to the president’s briefing on Monday night.

Lets stop this game right here.

There are three reasons that our relationship with the US is where it is at the moment:
1. Lobbying and poor strategic decisions by people like Afriforum;
2. Poor strategic and diplomatic options by government, over the last few years; and
3. The… https://t.co/smhZ1BWBGu

— Andre Vlok (@vlok_andre) November 30, 2025

By using this photo, Daily Maverick is of course insinuating that Solidarity and AfriForum are responsible for the alleged ‘disinformation’. It is interesting, however, that neither of these media outlets nor President Ramaphosa last night was prepared to say outright who it is… pic.twitter.com/4nChJJTrd4

— Jaco Kleynhans (@JacoKleynhans) December 1, 2025

Haven’t you done enough already? When did Ramaphosa “dismiss concerns about farm murders as disinformation”? You’re twisting his words, there’s no white genocide in South Africa. Your disinformation campaign has me defending people I don’t even like. https://t.co/huVEGAjVRf

— Charlie Langa (@CharlieLanga) December 1, 2025