ANC-Afrikaner meeting aims to address challenges facing SA

“As South Africans, we have a collective responsibility to address the challenges that our nation faces,” the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) said.

The PAC’s remark comes after a four-hour meeting it organised between the ANC and the Afrikaner Leadership Network at a Sandton hotel on Wednesday.

The Afrikaner Leadership Network includes the Solidariteit Movement, Solidariteit, AfriForum, the Afrikanerbond and Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI).

‘Robust’ discussions

The PAC said it held prior meetings with the ANC and the Afrikaner Leadership Network.

“The respective parties held robust and frank discussions on various issues of national interest. The dialogue was a clear indication that, as South Africans, we have a collective responsibility to address the challenges that our nation faces.

“The parties have identified issues around which we are committed to finding South African solutions, in the interest of a diverse and united nation,” the PAC said.

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Trump officials

While more details of the meeting were not divulged, it is believed that the organisations discussed issues related to the Expropriation Act, Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act, farm murders, and  South Africa-United States relations.

In February, Afrikaner lobby groups Solidarity and AfriForum handed over the “Washington Memorandum”, asking the United States to provide humanitarian assistance for Afrikaner development.

While Trump has halted funding to South Africa by signing an executive order against the country, alleging human rights issues in response to the government’s land policy, the Solidarity Movement wants the US to provide aid to a development fund to assist with community infrastructure protecting Afrikaners.

‘Finding solutions’

AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said their discussion on Wednesday provided a platform to find “solutions that benefit everyone in the country.”

“AfriForum will therefore continue to participate in the discussions that follow, even though they may be robust. We owe it to future generations to find a path forward.”

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said they had “frank discussions” on various issues of national interest.

“The parties have identified issues around which we are committed to finding South African solutions, in the interest of a diverse and united nation,” Bhengu-Motsiri said. 

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