The FW de Klerk Foundation notes the arrival of Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III as the United States’ top diplomat to South Africa. As a Foundation dedicated to upholding the South African Constitution and the 1994 National Accord, we welcome the Ambassador’s stated commitment to a “fact-based” assessment of the challenges facing our constitutional democracy.

In light of recent international rhetoric regarding “genocide” and “mass land grabs“, the Foundation seeks to clarify the legal and social realities of South Africa, urging the US Mission to adopt a fact-based perspective that supports our democratic institutions.

1. Rejecting the “Genocide” Narrative in Favour of the Rule of Law

The Foundation wishes to reiterate its long-standing position: while the brutal nature of farm attacks is a matter of grave national concern, categorising these crimes as “white genocide” is factually inaccurate and politically inflammatory.

• The Reality: These attacks occur within a broader, national crisis of violent crime and a “criminal environment of impunity“.
• The Call to Action: We urge Ambassador Bozell to report to President Trump that the solution lies not in international alarmism, but in pressuring the South African government to restore rural safety and professionalise the South African Police Service (“SAPS”) for the benefit of all citizens.

2. Guarding Against Legislative Overreach in Land Reform

The Foundation remains deeply concerned by the Expropriation Act of 2024. We view certain provisions—specifically those allowing for “nil compensation“—as fundamentally “legally unsound” and a threat to Section 25 of our Constitution.

• Not a “Land Grab“: It is vital for our international partners to understand that South Africa is not experiencing lawless seizures. We are a nation governed by laws, and the Foundation is prepared to challenge any unconstitutional application of this Act in the Constitutional Court.
• Economic Stability: We encourage the US to help promote the expansion of land ownership and title deeds for all South Africans. It is mainly black and brown rural dwellers living in former homelands and on mission land who do not enjoy the benefit of property rights. South African property owners must be supported by advocating for “fair and equitable” compensation, so that the agricultural sector remains a pillar of the economy and a key player in AGOA. Support for the current land reform programme is also critical.

3. Strengthening the Government of National Unity (GNU)

The Foundation believes the best defence for minority rights and the market economy is the success of the current Government of National Unity.

“The 1994 National Agreement was a promise of a multiparty, non-racial and inclusive democracy,” states Christo van der Rheede, Executive Director of the FW de Klerk Foundation. “By focusing on the facts of our coalition government, Ambassador Bozell can help move the US narrative away from grievances and toward a partnership that rewards compliance with the Constitution and implementation of the Bill of Human Rights.”

A Roadmap for the Ambassador

The FW de Klerk Foundation invites Ambassador Bozell to deeply research and engage with a broad range of South African institutions on:

• Constitutional Compliance: Monitoring the erosion of non-racialism in state policy.
• Property Rights: Defending the principle of “just and equitable” compensation and ensuring that land reform is effectively and efficiently implemented.
• The Rule of Law: Ensuring that the 2026 AGOA review reflects South Africa’s commitment to its founding democratic values.
• Economy Growth and Job Creation: Ensure that American companies in South Africa continue to invest in South Africa and that both countries enjoy the benefit of trade agreements based on fairness, free market access and sustainability.

About the FW de Klerk Foundation

The FW de Klerk Foundation promotes the vision of a united South Africa by supporting the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the rule of law. We act as a watchdog for the constitutional principles that ended Apartheid and established a free, peaceful and economically just society.