The Solidarity Movement, a South African organization, has proposed five solutions to ease the diplomatic tension between South Africa and the US. The proposals were made in response to five requests made by the US government to the South African government last year. The movement, which includes AfriForum and Solidarity, has been working on the proposals for months, involving visits to the US, discussions with the South African presidency, and ongoing communication with the US embassy in Pretoria and decision-makers in Washington.
The first proposal is to phase out racial laws, as determined by international conventions. The movement suggests that empowerment measures should be temporary and focus on people's socio-economic positions rather than their race. According to Dr. Dirk Hermann, the movement's main goal is to find solutions to the disputes, as ordinary South Africans ultimately bear the economic consequences of the diplomatic tension. The proposals are not only aimed at meeting US requests but also at finding solutions that are good for South Africa.
The second proposal focuses on rural safety and security. The movement suggests that farm murders and rural crime should be declared priority crimes, similar to gang violence and rhino poaching. An official community safety partnership is also proposed, where the police, private security industry, and community organizations have equal representation. The existing rural safety strategy of the South African Police Service (SAPS) should be expanded to allow for greater involvement by community safety initiatives.
The movement also proposes that President Cyril Ramaphosa and senior government leaders should unconditionally condemn the singing of "Kill the Boer," a slogan that is considered a hate speech against minorities. The movement does not believe that a "large-scale government-led genocide" is taking place in South Africa but argues that the existence of Afrikaners is threatened by racial laws, the handling of farm murders, and attacks on language and culture.
The fourth proposal deals with the US refugee program. The movement suggests that the two governments agree that people who want to use the program should be allowed to follow the process without prejudice. According to the movement, less than 1% of Afrikaners are likely to settle in the US. The movement also proposes creating a direct channel between the US administration and the Solidarity Movement, possibly for the establishment of an Afrikaner development fund for training and cultural infrastructure.
The fifth proposal focuses on the Expropriation Act. The movement suggests that Section 12(3) of the Act should be repealed and Section 19(2) amended to prevent land expropriation before a court has made a final decision. Further amendments are proposed to protect property rights in accordance with the Constitution. The movement believes that the South African and US governments should take note of the pending court case on the matter but prefer a settlement over continued litigation.
The Solidarity Movement has received a positive indication of the proposals in Washington, with a "principled nod" from the US government. The movement is now waiting for a final mandate from the South African government. According to Flip Buys, chairman of the Solidarity Movement, the proposals are not just aimed at meeting US requests but at finding solutions that are in the best interest of South Africa.
Key points
- The Solidarity Movement proposes phasing out racial laws, declaring farm murders a priority crime, and amending the Expropriation Act.
