Cape Town – AfriForum has formally appealed to G20 countries, urging them to use their diplomatic influence during and after the Johannesburg G20 summit to press South Africa to strengthen property rights and curb farm murders.
In a letter addressed to the embassies of G20 member states, the group highlighted concerns over the “erosion of property rights” and a “rise in violent attacks on farmers,” while proposing several practical solutions.
AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said the lack of meaningful progress on these issues has already had international repercussions, noting that “the United States had decided to boycott the gathering due to such concerns.”
Kriel stressed that protecting property rights in South Africa is not only a moral imperative but also in the G20’s economic interest, warning that uncertainty could deter foreign investment: “The disregard for property rights in places like Zimbabwe and Venezuela has caused great suffering … leading to hyperinflation, unemployment and growing poverty.”
AfriForum’s proposals include several demands: President Cyril Ramaphosa should unconditionally condemn the “Kill the Boer” chant; the government should recognise the “excessive torture and violence” in certain farm murders; farm murders should be declared a priority crime; and the South African Police Service should formally collaborate with legally registered farm and neighbourhood watch structures.
.@afriforum has called on the G20 countries to request the South African government that property rights in South Africa be respected and that effective action be taken to combat farm murders. We have written to the embassies of the G20 countries and also presented solutions to… pic.twitter.com/6j5ZOHBKZJ
— Kallie Kriel (@kalliekriel) November 16, 2025
On property rights, AfriForum calls for amendments to the Expropriation Act — particularly the removal of Section 12(3), which allows expropriation without compensation. AfriForum they argue that the current legislation poses a direct threat to the constitutional right to private property.
The group also plans to publish a report soon on what it describes as violations of minority human rights in South Africa.
The timing of AfriForum’s international appeal comes amid broader controversy. The South African government recently rejected a US State Department report that characteriesd farm attacks as not “ordinary crimes,” with the Presidency dismissing the findings as lacking credibility.
Meanwhile, in a separate campaign, AfriForum has called on the National Police Commissioner to classify farm attacks as a national priority crime under the South African Police Services Act, proposing a dedicated Hawks task team to coordinate investigations
The group’s activism also extends to legal action: AfriForum has challenged the Expropriation Act in court, arguing that certain provisions violate property rights.
Kriel emphasised the role that G20 nations can play in stabilising both domestic and international relations by committing to “efforts to protect property rights and combat farm murders.”
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compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
