South African Court Dismisses White Genocide Claims as 'Imagined'
A South African court has rejected claims of a white genocide in the country, calling them "clearly imagined" and "not real." The ruling challenges past statements made by former U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, both of whom had alleged persecution of white farmers in South Africa.
The case involved Grantland Michael Gray, a wealthy benefactor who intended to donate $2.1 million (£1.7 million) to the white supremacist group Boerelegioen to support its cause. However, the court deemed this request invalid, citing it as "vague" and "contrary to public policy."
Trump had previously claimed there was a "large-scale killing of farmers" in South Africa and even suggested granting refugee status to white South African farmers due to alleged persecution. Musk, who was born in South Africa, has also expressed concerns over what he termed "racist ownership laws" and previously referenced a "genocide of white people."
Gray’s four siblings, who are trustees and beneficiaries of the family trust, contested the bequest, arguing that their brother had become "obsessed with the idea of an impending genocide of white people in South Africa" in the last decade of his life. Gray, who had been paralyzed since a military accident at age 26, passed away in March 2022.
According to the court, Gray’s paranoia was influenced by his racist beliefs and exposure to extremist online content. He reportedly met members of Boerelegioen in 2020 and provided approximately $326,000 (£258,000) in gold coins to support the organization. In his will, he designated Boerelegioen as a beneficiary, specifying that a portion of his estate fund its training programs.
However, due to the existence of three entities under the Boerelegioen name, the court found Gray’s bequest unclear. More significantly, Judge Rosheni Allie ruled that Gray’s intention was rooted in his desire to support a group he believed would "exterminate every black person in South Africa" while defending against an imagined white genocide.
Gray’s siblings argued that Boerelegioen promotes racial hatred and segregation. The group, however, claims it provides security and training services to communities without discrimination based on race, gender, or religion.
The court ultimately ruled in favor of Gray’s siblings and ordered Boerelegioen to cover the legal costs of the case.
Meanwhile, Trump recently signed an executive order freezing U.S. financial aid to South Africa over a new law permitting land seizures under certain conditions. The issue of white South African farmers has long been a rallying point for right-wing and far-right factions in American politics.
Despite persistent claims of systemic targeting of South Africa’s white Afrikaner minority, official crime statistics suggest otherwise. The country does not publish crime data based on race, but between October and December 2024, 6,953 people were murdered. Of these, 12 were victims of farm attacks, including one farmer, five farm dwellers, and four employees—most likely black. In contrast, 961 women and 273 children were murdered in the same period.
The court's decision reinforces the lack of evidence supporting claims of a white genocide in South Africa, dismissing such allegations as baseless.
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