Houston, we have a crisis: The 'Afrikaner genocide' myth and the real threat to SA

“HOUSTON, we have a problem.” The iconic Apollo 13 line feels oddly fitting for South Africa's latest headache: the “Afrikaner genocide” narrative making waves in US-South Africa trade talks.

- PHILIPPA LARKIN

This exaggerated claim, fueled by images of crosses symbolising farm murders, paints a distorted picture of crime in South Africa, ruffling feathers globally. It's a headache for the country's reputation overshadowing its “Rainbow Nation” legacy.

To navigate this storm, South Africa must confront the misinformation head-on while addressing the root causes - crime, unemployment, and governance failures - with decisive action.

The “Afrikaner genocide” narrative gained traction during the recent White House meeting, where US President Donald Trump presented video clips of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema chanting “Kill the Boer,’ an apartheid-era struggle song.

The South African delegation, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, dismissed the EFF as a minor political party, but the damage was done.

The chant, paired with images of white crosses, reinforced a narrative of targeted violence against Afrikaners, sticking in the global imagination.

At the Google Zeitgeist event in London last weekend, I faced questions from business leaders about this so-called “genocide”. I was amused by how misinformation travels - yet frustrated by its persistence.

This distortion, like a comedic skit flipping tragedy into exaggeration, stems from a real issue: South Africa’s massive crime problem.

Crime in South Africa is severe but not genocidal.