Trump to give AfriForum R18m grant, sparking backlash over white SA claims

The Trump administration is facing backlash over a planned grant of nearly $1 million (around R18 million) to South African lobby group AfriForum. Critics argue the funding will legitimize claims of anti-white persecution in South Africa, even as the U.S. scales back other human rights programs globally. The grant, reportedly from the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, would back AfriForum’s claims of discrimination, hateful rhetoric, and violence against Afrikaners and minority groups.

This marks a growing bond between AfriForum and the Trump administration, which has frequently amplified the narrative that white South African farmers are unjustly targeted. The funding comes amid AfriForum’s increasing ties with the administration, including a "Washington Memorandum" that urged the U.S. to recognize alleged discrimination and provide aid to Afrikaners.

The move has sparked controversy, with critics accusing the administration of funding a racially divisive narrative with little evidence. Former U.S. State Department officials and human rights experts have condemned the decision, calling it offensive and offensive to taxpayers. Critics also accuse the Trump administration of prioritizing fringe causes over real crises and undermining transparency in its dealings with South Africa.