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Civil rights organisation AfriForum said that Gwede Mantashe, the ANC’s secretary general’s attempts to exempt the ruling party from accepting any responsibility for the farm murder crisis in the country deliberately ignores the fact that the ANC is directly involved in creating a vindictive climate. Farm murders flourish in this climate. AfriForum’s criticism follows Mantashe’s statement in the media to justify the ANC that the party could not be on every farm.

According to Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, the ANC’s silent approval and even active support of hate speech aimed at farmers, Afrikaners and whites in general directly contribute to creating circumstances in which some people now see these groups as legitimate targets.

‘As long as the ANC continues to remain silent when ANC leaders, like Ronald Lamola say that he cannot guarantee the safety of the Van der Merwes and the Van Tonders (Afrikaner surnames) and as long as the ANC continues to fight in court for the right to say that Afrikaners and farmers are dogs that should be shot, the ANC can be held responsible for farm murders,’ said Kriel.

Kriel pointed out that the ANC found suspended ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema not guilty on charges that his statement, that whites are criminals and should be treated as criminals, causes racial polarization.

The ANC’s failure as ruling party to take responsibility for farm murders confirms that AfriForum should continue full steam with its Stop the Murders campaign. The public can support this campaign by visiting the website, www.stopthemurders.co.za