DIRCO Rejects US Human Rights Report on Alleged Farm Killings, SA Stans
- The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has responded to a report from the United States' Human Rights Report on South Africa
- The report stated that the human rights conditions in the country have worsened, and it has been engaged in extrajudicial killings
- The report also said that torture and deaths could increase as a result of the signing of the Expropriation Act, and DIRCO slammed the report
Tebogo Mokwena, affiliated with Briefly News, covered local and international relations, political analysis, and interviews in South Africa for Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News during his 10 years of experience.
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PRETORIA, GAUTENG— The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) rejected the United States' 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in South Africa, which was published on 12 August 2025. The Department said the report is deeply flawed and inaccurate.
In a statement, the department said the report relied on a-contextual information and a discredited account. It also accused the United States government of misleadingly representing farm killings as extrajudicial killings. DIRCO also said that the US government misclassified police killings as extrajudicial killings and neglected the robust processes in place.
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DIRCO slams comments on Expropriation Act
The department also slammed the United States' stance on the Expropriation Act in the report. The United States government stated that the Expropriation Act, which was passed into law in January 2025, could make extrajudicial killings worse and allowed for the forceful seizure of Afrikaners' land.
"The United Nations has described South Africa's Land Expropriation Act, signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa, as a critical step in addressing the country's racially imbalanced land ownership," the department said.
The department said that the UN's recognition underscores the integrity of the country's legislative processes, which are aimed at rectifying historical injustices.
The United States government has been a vocal opponent of the Expropriation Act. President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order granting Afrikaners refugee status, alleging that their lands have been seized and they are facing persecution.
What did South Africans say?
Netizens commenting on Facebook shared their views on the report.
Pearson Rangani said:
"The Trump administration's hostility is a consequence of the ANC's actions against the Israeli government. No amount of diplomatic engagement will ease tensions with the Trump administration while the case remains ongoing."
Mduduzi Mashaba said:
"All this because South Africa went and opened a case against Israel at the ICC."
Daa Masta said:
"America is doing everything in its power to start a war with South Africa."
Dumisani Nhlapo said:
"South Africa is a highly flawed country, largely through rampant criminality and corruption. But that country in particular has no moral authority to judge any other country in this world under its current administration."
Thande Thandeka said:
"They need to stop begging the USA like other BRICS nations are doing."
SA government submits new trade deal to the US
In a related article, Briefly News reported that the South African government has submitted a new trade deal to the United States. This occurred after Trump's 30% tariffs took effect.
The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, confirmed that a deal has been submitted. He did not, however, indicate what the agreement contained.
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Source: Briefly News
