Former U.S. president Donald Trump recently claimed that Afrikaners were not safe in South Africa. His remarks have sparked a massive discussion on the treatment and overall perception of this misunderstood minority group. Afrikaners, classified as white in post-apartheid South Africa, constitute about 4% of the overall population. They are the only colonized cultural group, with continuous historical roots still in the country today. With a population exceeding 2.5 million within the broader context of South Africa’s more than 60 million residents, their situation has come under scrutiny following Trump’s claims of a genocide occurring against them.
Afrikaners, or Boers—Boer derives from the Dutch word for farmer—are largely descendants of Dutch (34.8%), German (33.7%) and French (13.2%) settlers. Over time, they’ve created a distinctive cultural identity that for centuries has rooted deeply in the African land. Their language, Afrikaans, is closely related to Dutch, going hand in hand with their heritage. The political landscape for Afrikaners shifted dramatically in 1994 when the historic end of apartheid allowed black citizens to participate fully in national elections for the first time.
The apartheid regime, imposed by the Afrikaner-led government in 1948, was a brutal institutionalized system of racial segregation and discrimination. Hendrik Verwoerd, a prominent Afrikaner leader of the era, infamously stated, “blacks should never be shown the greener pastures of education.” This ideology laid the groundwork for the repressive policies that governed much of South Africa’s recent history.
With the end of apartheid, Afrikaners found themselves confronted by a different set of problems in a society that was changing fast. In fact, just over a year ago, Trump made the insinuation that a genocide against Afrikaners was taking place. As a result, many in this community are now thinking seriously about leaving the country. Just recently, reports surfaced claiming that nearly 70,000 Afrikaners were ready to come to the United States. This recent upswell in interest comes after Trump proposed giving refugee status to those fleeing “violence and persecution.”
In light of these developments, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa responded to Trump’s assertions by highlighting the complexity of the situation. He stated that “people of a certain race or culture are being targeted for persecution,” but criticized those who wished to leave, asserting that they were “leaving because they don’t want to embrace the changes that are taking place in our country and our constitution.”
Supporters of the Genocide Convention Critics have condemned preliminary determinations of genocide for lacking evidence. A South African high court judge described such claims as “fictitiously conjured” and “juristic nonsense.” Current protests and unrest in South Africa expose ugly undercurrents of xenophobia, exposing deeper societal fissures and racial divisions. Conversations about race and identity are still extremely polarizing.
So even as many Afrikaners express growing interest in moving abroad, other, more moderate leaders in the community say they want to highlight Afrikaners’ commitment to South Africa. Corné Mulder, leader of the right-wing Freedom Front Plus party, stated, “We are bound to Africa and will build a future for ourselves and our children here.” This perspective highlights the hope of sustaining ties to one’s homeland among many Afrikaners, a hope that still exists in spite of difficult circumstances today.
Organizations like AfriForum, an Afrikaner lobby group, have actively sought to address grievances and protect minority rights within South Africa. They lodged an appeal against a lower court ruling that allowed expropriation of the land without compensation. South Africa’s Constitutional Court chose not to hear the case. These legal battles highlight the chronic predicament of Afrikaners. They do so while treading through a landscape rife with political upheaval and economic anxiety.
The legacy of apartheid still casts its long shadow over South African society. Songs such as “Shoot the Boer,” by firebrand politician Julius Malema, evoke passionate reactions. More importantly, they paint a frightening picture of the continued divides between various cultural groups. President Biden’s call for national reconciliation and unity faces further complication from the current, highly contentious political climate.
As discussions about the status of Afrikaners continue to unfold, many wonder what the future holds for this group within South Africa. The combination of historic grievances, present politics, and world-wide scrutiny presents a charged narrative that requires thoughtful focus.
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