Cape Town – South Africa’s parliamentary International Relations and Cooperation Committee has vowed to continue scrutinising civil society groups lobbying foreign governments over the country’s policies, amid a dispute with advocacy organisation Lex Libertas over alleged misinformation and calls for possible legal action.
Committee chairperson Supra Mahumapelo said Parliament would not be intimidated into abandoning its oversight responsibilities, rejecting allegations that it was seeking to punish citizens for expressing dissenting political views.
“We will not threaten anyone but we will not be intimidated out of our oversight role either,” Mahumapelo said in a statement published by Parliament of South Africa on Monday.
The dispute follows criticism by Lex Libertas executive director Ernst Roets of remarks by senior African National Congress figures concerning South Africans and organisations that approach foreign governments over domestic policies.
Different political views
According to The Citizen, Roets challenged proposals involving possible prosecution and citizenship-related measures against people accused of spreading misinformation about South Africa abroad.
Mahumapelo said the committee had not proposed withdrawing citizenship because of differing political views. He argued, however, that Parliament was entitled to examine whether foreign lobbying campaigns could harm South Africa’s national interests by encouraging sanctions, visa restrictions or economic penalties.
The committee also disputed claims of a state-sponsored “white genocide”, state-sanctioned farm attacks and arbitrary land seizures under the Expropriation Act. It argued that such claims misrepresent South Africa’s legal and social conditions. These assertions remain contested by advocacy groups and should be assessed against independent evidence.
Mahumapelo urged Lex Libertas to present its evidence through domestic democratic institutions rather than foreign legislatures.
“Lex Libertas should present its evidence on farm attacks, property rights and transformation legislation under oath, in public and subject to questioning,” he said.
However, Lex Libertas has defended its international advocacy campaign, arguing that the government should identify specific false statements and provide evidence to refute them.
Freedom of expressions
“If somebody spreads false information, the answer is straightforward: identify the false statement, present the evidence and correct the record,” Roets said, according to The Common Sense.
The organisation has said it intends to intensify its engagement with foreign governments and policy groups rather than scale back its activities.
The committee said no draft legislation targeting the organisations had been tabled and no citizens had been charged in connection with the dispute. It added that any future legislative proposals would have to comply with the Constitution and undergo public participation and judicial scrutiny.
The row highlights tensions between freedom of expression, civil society advocacy and the government’s concerns about foreign interference and the international consequences of campaigns challenging South African policies.
Mahumapelo said Parliament would continue working to protect the country’s sovereignty and constitutional order while defending the rights of citizens, including the right to disagree.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
