A few thousand white Afrikaners gathered at the US Embassy in Pretoria over the weekend to deliver a memorandum to Embassy officials, thanking the Trump administration for his stance on South Africa, while also calling on him to take further action to address alleged discrimination against white Afrikaners.
The gathering was organised by one Willem Petzer, an Afrikaans commentator, who has previously been charged with assault and public violence and has been known to make racially charged comments. In 2020, he falsely accused a woman of running a Facebook group which debunked several far-right conspiracy theories, which led to the woman receiving death threats.
Since Trump issued his Executive Order against South Africa many Afrikaners have come out in support, with thousands of people inquiring how to become a refugee in the US.
The memorandum submitted by Petzer to President Trump outlines several grievances regarding the South African government, specifically under the ANC.
They include Expropriation without Compensation, laws that allegedly discriminate against white people, and claims that white farmers are disproportionately targeted in violent crimes and farm attacks.
It alleges that the ANC government ignores these crimes and that radical political groups fuel racial hatred. The memorandum also argues that the ANC follows a Marxist ideology aimed at state control of land, water, and mineral resources.
The US Embassy acknowledged receipt of the memorandum, which would be sent to Trump and the Secretary of State for ”immediate action.”
A handful of self-proclaimed ‘oppressed’ Afrikaners proudly singing “Die Stem” today in Pretoria
Some of the signs they are holding read:
“Recognise the white nation”
“Self-determination is the the way forward”
“We are the rightful owners”Sadly, there are many great… pic.twitter.com/4Md9apgdyI
— Matthew George (@MatJGeorge) February 15, 2025