On Thursday, during the plenary meeting of the National Assembly, Minister John Steenhuisen took questions from the parliament on the state of the agricultural economy.

During the course of questioning, the recent 30% tariff charge on South African goods was discussed, in terms of its impact on local productivity. But among the questions from MPs was a call for Steenhuisen to clarify his stance on accusations of “misinformation” against AfriForum and Solidariteit.

High-ranking DA members’ have notably made several recent statements attacking Afriforum, Solidariteit, Sakeliga, and other regime critics, aligning themselves with the ANC’s public communications policy on the matter. Despite the disconnect from public perceptions, Steenhuisen refused to budge in his party’s ongoing blame of AfriForum for the international situation.

The recent Brenthurst Foundation public survey showed that public opinion is not in line with the ANC and DA’s hostile stance to minority civic society. 59% of the public seek closer relations the United States. 64% are aware of President Trump’s February 2025 executive order slashing aid to South Africa. Of those aware of these diplomatic criticisms, 55% view the move as unjustified, and 74% anticipate negative effects. But the vast majority blame the government for this response rather than AfriForum, who were held responsible by only 16% of those surveyed.

Steenhuisen was offered an opportunity to walk back his position when Wynand Boshoff of the VF+ addressed him:

“I want to ask the honorable minister if you would concede that the controversial visit of AfriForum and Solidariteit to the USA was exactly meant to prevent the end of AGOA and to prevent punitive tariff tariffs such as we learned about yesterday in the night?”

Steenhuisen’s response was both stubborn and evasive:

“I do think that it is deeply unfortunate that there are decisions being made at a very high level in Washington that are based on an incorrect version of what is truly happening in South Africa, and I think that that is most unfortunate […] any organization, whether it's AfriForum, [or any other] organization [is free to travel and conduct themselves as they see fit] and I don't think anybody should stop them from doing so. But I do think that when we do share information about South Africa, that we should make every effort to make sure that our international partners have a full understanding of what the real facts are in South Africa and the challenges facing us. Because nobody wants to see people harmed through decisions that are made based on misinformation.”

Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, responded to Steenhuisen on Facebook this morning:

“It is a great disappointment that John Steenhuisen shares the ANC's position that the US's actions regarding South Africa are simply the result of misinformation. This position has the effect of [helping the ANC] to evade responsibility for their reckless policies and defiant actions towards the US, which have led to the current crisis. John is helping the ANC to falsely portray AfriForum and Solidarity as scapegoats. [Our] efforts to bring about a change of direction in South Africa, […] are being blatantly hampered by John's [accusations …] AfriForum has great appreciation for leaders of the DA who are working hard at local, provincial and national level to hold the ANC to account, and will therefore continue to work with them […]However, it is unfortunate that John is countering their hard work by echoing the ANC's propaganda. I have repeatedly requested John in personal messages not to join the ANC in spreading the lie of misinformation. He has ignored these requests.”

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