United States wants to fund research on crime against white Afrikaners in South Africa

ProPublica has reported that the United States is looking to fund research on crime against minority populations in South Africa, focusing on white Afrikaners.

ProPublica is an independent, non-profit newsroom based in New York City that produces investigative journalism in the public interest.

It was founded in 2007 by former Wall Street Journal managing editor Paul Steiger, alongside financial backing from philanthropists Herbert and Marion Sandler.

It is highly respected and has won nine Pulitzer Prizes, and has been named a finalist more than a dozen times.

ProPublica published a recent report on the money which were previously allocated to foreign aid programs which were stopped.

This money must be spent, and one proposal from the Trump administration suggested funding research on crime against Afrikaners in South Africa.

“It’s clear from sources we spoke with that the key targeted minority population in question is the white ethnic group known as Afrikaners,” it said.

For decades, the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, known as DRL, has supported human rights in some of the world’s most oppressive countries.

Now, ProPublica’s reporting found, it’s planning to direct funds to groups supporting right-wing causes in Europe and elsewhere. 

Previously, DRL staff had been told to begin the process of awarding funds to a group called Lex Libertas.

Lex Libertas was founded by Ernst Roets, a conservative civil society activist who had served as AfriForum Deputy CEO.

He is an advocate for Afrikaner minority rights, property rights, freedom of speech, and local self-governance.

Lex Libertas is currently raising money to place 3,000 white crosses on the National Mall in remembrance of attacks on South African farmers.

The proposed grant was later opened up to allow a broader set of invited groups to apply for the $1 million in funding.

However, it is still intended for the same purpose, according to people with knowledge of the process.

The State Department declined to say whether Lex Libertas will be among those invited to compete, citing ongoing deliberations.

It did, however, confirm that the Trump administration has serious concerns about the human rights situation in South Africa that need to be addressed.

Experts described the proposed grant to fund research into violence against Afrikaners as keeping with the Trump administration’s overall stance toward South Africa.

For decades, the U.S. relationship with South Africa has been symbolised by its support for HIV care.

However, since Donald Trump returned to office, there’s been a shift as the administration has strengthened ties with white nationalist groups.

In the last 18 months, Trump has argued that there is a genocide of white South Africans and brutal attacks on farmers.

He also used claims that white people are subjected to disproportionate violence to justify cutting off U.S. funding for HIV treatment and research.

Even though he’s barred nearly all new refugees from the United States, he’s welcomed Afrikaners, fast-tracking their entry. 

There have long been tensions between South Africa and the U.S., but the aid the U.S. provided saved lives and helped sustain a working relationship.

Now, by seeking to fund a movement antagonistic to the South African government, the U.S. risks driving a wedge between the two nations.

Reporting with ProPublica. Read the full ProPublica article here.