The Trump administration is preparing to award US$986,500 — approximately 18 million rand — to AfriForum, a South African civil rights organisation that advocates for the Afrikaner community, to document acts of violence, hate speech, and alleged discrimination against minorities in the country.

The funding, sourced from the US State Department, is intended to investigate incidents of violence, assess access to justice and police protection, and identify patterns of criminality affecting Afrikaners and other minority communities.

According to an investigation by ProPublica, AfriForum is set to receive the grant, although the programme — announced on 6 August — has not yet officially identified any beneficiary. The funding envisages a cooperation agreement with a duration of 15 to 18 months.

The organisation confirmed that the allocation has not yet been finalised. “The allocation has not been finalised,” AfriForum told ProPublica, adding that it would make a public announcement if it receives the funding. The figure represents the programme’s maximum ceiling, not money already disbursed.

The initiative follows an executive order signed by Trump on 7 February 2025 suspending US aid and assistance to South Africa to the extent permitted by law. The same directive established priority support for humanitarian assistance and the admission of Afrikaner refugees.

Also in February, representatives of AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement met with Trump administration officials at the White House, where they called for greater pressure on the African National Congress (ANC) regarding racial legislation, land policy, Afrikaans-medium education, and political rhetoric.

Washington has also informed Congress of its intention to admit up to 17,500 refugees — predominantly white South Africans from the Afrikaner community — during the new fiscal year. The South African government rejects allegations of systematic persecution, arguing that crime affects all communities and that land redistribution policies seek to redress apartheid-era inequalities.

Despite the relatively modest sum relative to the scale of economic relations between the two countries, the funding could strengthen AfriForum’s capacity to investigate farm attacks and influence international policymakers. The potential grant may also deepen diplomatic tensions between Washington and Pretoria, while for now remaining without official confirmation.

Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=559758