POLICE confirmed they are probing the treason case lodged by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) against the executive leadership of AfriForum over allegations that the organisation had deliberately lobbied foreign powers to act against the sovereignty and economic interests of South Africa.

The move comes after a number of actions taken by US President Donald Trump against the country including shutting down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), plans to cut US funding to South Africa over the Land Expropriation Bill, and issuing an order for the prioritisation of white Afrikaner South Africans through the United States refugee programme.

At the Cape Town Central Police Station on Monday, MK Party deputy president, Dr John Hlophe addressed the media after registering the case and referred to the executive order issued by Trump, which he said follows “the interventions made by the AfriForum”.

MK Party deputy president, Dr John Hlophe, addressed the media after opening a criminal case of treason against the executive leadership of AfriForum on Monday at Cape Town Central Police Station. Pciture: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers

“The MK party vehemently condemns their treasonous actions of AfriForum, which has deliberately lobbied foreign powers to act against the sovereignty and economic interests of South Africa.

“Their betrayal is nothing less than an act of economic sabotage, a direct assault on our nation's independence and a dangerous attempt to undermine the will of the people.”

Hlophe explained that under South African common law, treason is committed when an individual or group, with hostile intent, unlawfully engages in conduct aimed at undermining the authority, sovereignty or security of the state.

“The courts have provided legal clarity on treason in several cases, establishing principles that remain applicable today. The manner in which the AfriForum has engaged the Trump administration in the US meets this definition,” Hlophe said.

“AfriForum’s direct appeal to a foreign government, which has resulted in economic retaliation against South Africa, aligns with many legal precedents. AfriForum has a long and disgraceful history of opposing South Africa’s democratic transformation, shielding the racist economic interests of the privileged European settler elite, while disregarding the suffering of the oppressed majority. Their latest act of treachery—lobbying the U.S. government to impose punitive economic measures on South Africa—is a deliberate attempt to weaken our state through external pressure.”

SAPS spokesperson Colonel Andrè Traut confirmed a case of High Treason was registered at Cape Town Central Police Station.

“The circumstances are under police investigation.”

AfriForum CEO, Kallie Kriel said that they won’t be losing any sleep over the case.

“The fact is, we’ve seen in the last week, many false accusations, but nobody could share specifically on what facts it is based on because there are no facts.

“This is a real effort to divert the attention from those who should take responsibility for what is going wrong in the country, and that of course also includes former President Jacob Zuma from MK Party.

“It is the President (Ramaphosa) signing the BELA Act, and the Expropriation Act not AfriForum, so they should take full responsibility and not try and evade responsibility by blaming AfriForum. It won’t silence us,” Kriel said.

Cape Times