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AfriForum today presented 15 embassies with a memorandum in which the civil rights organisation requests that these countries must exert pressure on the South African government to protect the rights of minorities as well as to address the farm murder crisis.

The memorandum specifically emphasises the conduct of representatives of the South African government at two separate forums held last week by the United Nations (UN). During the Forum on Minority Issues, the South African representative accused those organisations that focus on the prioritisation of farm murders, that they are “apartheid sympathisers”. At another forum during which votes were cast with regards to the role of advocates for human rights, the South African government voted against the resolution.

“This behaviour by Government sends a clear message. It is evident that human rights and in particular the rights of minority groups within South Africa are of no importance to the ANC government,” said Henk Maree, AfriForum’s National Spokesperson.

AfriForum presented the memorandum to countries such as Germany, the USA, France, Switzerland, Canada, Namibia and Sweden. In the memorandum, reference is also made to the gruesome murder of the Potgieter family exactly five years ago. Attie Potgieter was stabbed 151 times with a garden fork and his two-year-old daughter was shot in the head before her body was thrown in a carton. Her mother, Wilma, was forced on her knees and shot in the head from behind. 

“After the gruesome murder took place, representatives of Government argued that Government will intervene to prevent similar murders. However, it is five years later today and Government hasn’t lifted a finger,” added Maree.

A group of AfriForum representatives visited each of the 15 embassies by foot and had social media abuzz in between the visits. “Thousands of people, locally and internationally, were today reached by the action and we are strongly convinced that our plea will not fall on deaf ears,” concluded Maree.

Issued by AfriForum