By Kallie Kriel
CEO AfriForum
Any investigation will confirm that there are no grounds for the false allegations of treason that are now being made against AfriForum.
This is AfriForum’s reaction after the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) opened a case of treason against the organisation in Cape Town today and the announcement by the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) today that it will open a similar case against AfriForum and other organisations in Khayelitsha later this week.
According to Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, the charges are “absurd’ and will not cause sleepless nights.
“It is the duty of civil society and organisations such as AfriForum to shine a light on legislation and actions that threaten the welfare of citizens and the country.
We cannot keep quiet about the injustice that is being committed at the expense of South Africa, its citizens, and the South African economy. False allegations that AfriForum has spread ‘misleading information’ about the Expropriation Act and that this is the reason for the USA’s action against South Africa are blatant lies,” says Kriel.
“AfriForum has constantly put the facts, as contained in the Expropriation Act signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa himself, in the spotlight.
This was done in the interest of the country and its citizens to point out the dangers that the act poses for private property rights and the risks that especially Section 12(3) of the act poses,” emphasises Kriel. Section 12(3) of the act provides for nil compensation in specific cases of land expropriation.
“The ANC’s reckless and radical domestic and foreign policies are the real reason for the unstable relations with the USA and the USA’s recent actions against South Africa.
Their action against the interests of the citizens of the country is evident in, among other things, state capture and other corruption as already pointed out by the Zondo Commission and the failure of the criminal justice system to act accordingly against individuals who are responsible for state capture and other transgressions.
It is moreover hypocritical and ironic that it is Jacob Zuma, the leader of the MKP, who, in his time as President of the country, was responsible for state capture, is now the leader of the party to bring in a charge of treason against AfriForum,” concludes Kriel.