Kallie Kriel fires back at Mantashe, demands answers on Expropriation and Bela Acts

Cape Town – AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel has dismissed Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe’s claims that the lobby group is driven by hopes of apartheid’s return, calling the remarks a distraction from the ANC’s failures.

Kriel argued that instead of attacking AfriForum, Mantashe should answer for policies like the Expropriation Act and the Bela Act, which he claims undermine Afrikaners and minorities.

Speaking during a plenary session of the National Assembly on Tuesday, Mantashe said AfriForum’s actions showed that they wanted a return to the days of Apartheid in South Africa.

“AfriForum is an anti-transformation programme, driven by the hope that Apartheid will come back. It’s a mirage, and that mirage must be confronted by all South Africans, irrespective of colour, because it is going to hurt the country before we recover.

“It is not an attack on the ANC or Ramaphosa as they announced; it is an attack on the country, and everybody must be concerned; we must mobilise our people to confront right-wing mobilisation that is emerging in the country,” he said.

But, according to The Citizen, Kriel maintained that AfriForum would not be intimidated or silenced by the minister’s statements and vowed to continue advocating for what they believe is in the best interests of all South Africans, including Afrikaners.

“Mr Mantashe’s statements are ludicrous in an effort to divert attention from the real issues, this strategy does not work on us,” the report quoted Kriel as saying.

“Mr Mantashe should answer why the ANC leadership that he is part of implements irresponsible policies that are to the detriment to the people of South Africa, such as the Expropriation Act, and they also disrespect minorities and specifically Afrikaners with regard to the Bela Act that targets African schools and our cultural existence.”

His comments come amid growing scrutiny of AfriForum, with the Hawks investigating allegations of high treason and the MK party laying charges of economic sabotage against the group.