A court in South Africa has rejected assertions of a white genocide in the country as “fabricated” and “unsubstantiated,” contradicting statements made by US President Donald Trump and entrepreneur Elon Musk.
The court’s decision coincided with its refusal to approve a substantial donation by a wealthy donor to the white supremacist group Boerelegioen. Grantland Michael Bray had intended to leave $2.1 million to the group to support its promotion of racial animosity and segregation.
The court deemed Bray’s request as invalid, ambiguous, and against public interest. Trump has previously mentioned the alleged “mass killings of farmers” in South Africa, while Musk has criticized what he perceives as discriminatory property laws and the purported “genocide of white individuals.”
Despite advocating for strict immigration control, Trump expressed willingness to allow white South African farmers to relocate to the US as refugees due to the persecution they supposedly faced. Musk, who hails from South Africa but now resides in the US, also voiced concerns on the matter.
The legal action was initiated by Bray’s four siblings, who serve as trustees and beneficiaries of the family trust. They argued that Bray had fixated on the notion of an impending white genocide in South Africa during the final decade of his life before his passing in March 2022.
Bray, who was left paralyzed following a military accident at 26, had developed paranoia about the alleged impending genocide, influenced by his existing prejudice and online content he encountered. Judge Rosheni Allie noted that Bray had interacted with members of Boerelegioen and contributed a substantial sum to the organization.
Boerelegioen portrays itself as a civil defense movement resisting violence against white individuals in South Africa and the theft of their belongings. Bray had designated the organization as a beneficiary of his estate, emphasizing funding for their training programs.
However, due to ambiguity regarding the intended beneficiary entity within Boerelegioen, the court ruled in favor of Bray’s siblings. It also found that the claims of white genocide were baseless and ordered Boerelegioen to cover the legal costs.
Recently, Trump signed an executive order halting financial assistance to South Africa following a law permitting land expropriation by the government under certain conditions.
The plight of white South African farmers has become a focal point for certain political factions in the United States, particularly those on the right and far-right end of the spectrum. The narrative often spun around the systematic targeting of the country’s white Afrikaner minority group has stirred emotions and fueled debates, but a closer look at local crime statistics reveals a more nuanced reality.
While South Africa does not categorize crime data based on race, recent figures shed light on the broader landscape of violence in the country. Between October and December of 2024, a staggering 6,953 lives were lost to murder. Amidst this tragic toll, a total of 12 individuals fell victim to farm attacks. Within this small cohort, one was identified as a farmer, while five were farm dwellers and four were employees – individuals who, by all indications, were likely members of the country’s black population.
These figures, while illuminating, tell only a fraction of the story of violence in South Africa. Alongside those 12 lives lost in farm-related incidents, a stark reality emerges – 961 women and 273 children met tragic fates during the same time period. These numbers serve as a sobering reminder of the far-reaching impact of violence and crime in the nation.
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