Category: Press Releases

AfriForum’s Chief Executive for Strategy and International Liaison, Dr Ernst Roets has just been appointed Head of Policy for the Solidarity Movement. In his new capacity, Roets will henceforth be responsible for coordinating the policy and strategy among the institutions of the Solidarity Movement, and for promoting public buy-in for this strategy. This also entails that he will henceforth be an employee of the Solidarity Movement.

Roets said that he looks back on the past thirteen years that he has spent as an employee at AfriForum with great appreciation, but that he looks forward to the new task that lies ahead of him with great excitement. More information regarding this announcement will be made in the coming months.

Flip Buys, Chairperson of the Solidarity Movement said Roets’ appointment follows the urgent need to speed up the Movement’s protection and building projects due to the perpetually deteriorating condition of the country. Roets recently completed his doctorate in Law, which equips and enables him to give depth to the federal plans of the Movement that will be announced in early October.

The Solidarity Movement binds the more than 20 institutions of the Solidarity Movement together and coordinates their work. Flip Buys is the Chairperson, Werner Human the Head of Operations, and Jaco Kleynhans the Head of International Liaison. The 12 trustees forming part of this trust represents the biggest institutions in the federal movement. They include, among others, Dr Dirk Hermann, Chief Executive of Solidarity, Kallie Kriel, Chief Executive of AfriForum, Henk Schalekamp of the Solidarity Investment Company, Prof Danie Goosen, Chairperson of the FAK, and Hannes Noëth, Executive Director of Solidarity Helping Hand.

The Solidarity Movement today appealed to the American government not to punish the country and its people for what the government is doing, and to rather aim their expected punitive measures at the government leaders themselves.

According to Flip Buys, chairperson of the Solidarity Movement, the latest disaster which the government has brought upon South Africa by supplying arms to Russia, will cost the country and its people dearly. The USA has already imposed strict sanctions against many countries that have not sided with them in the war in Ukraine.

The US ambassador was probably instructed by Pres. Biden to take a stand in public. It is highly likely that the recent South African delegation to the USA, led by Mr Sidney Mufamadi, failed to set minds at ease in Washington.

The government’s action is inexcusable as it comes at a time at which the country is already in deep trouble. Given this latest blunder the chances of a recession are almost guaranteed and the drop in the value of the rand increases the already high living costs all citizens are already facing.

Therefore, there is only one message the Solidarity Movement can send to the Americans and that is not to punish the country for what the government is doing. The US should rather aim their intended punitive measures at the government leaders in question.

This action by the ANC government is a diplomatic disaster. South Africa cannot afford to become involved in a conflict in which we have no interest and in one that is taking place thousands of kilometres from us. The government should act in the country’s interests and should not remain stuck in the forgotten Cold War era.

The government has now increased the chances for a 2023 recession and the ANC’s actions have weakened the value of the rand to such an extent that everyone’s cost of living is getting higher. The large-scale selling of SA based shares will harm all members of pension funds and the ANC should be held accountable for this. The government’s actions could also cost thousands of people their jobs because of a breach of the favourable trade agreement with the USA.

It is clear that the government is acting directly against national interests, and according to legal experts the government leaders in question have also transgressed laws by supplying weapons to a country involved in a war.

It is common knowledge that the SAND is in a hopeless state and is unable to fulfil its basic duties as is evident from the state the air force, army and navy find themselves in.

Moreover, the government ran the country’s arms industry into the ground through its shameful destruction of Denel.

The country is also still holding its breath about prosecutions in the arms scandal which took place decades ago. Added to this, is the question of whether any corruption was involved in the supply of arms.

The government has already caused enough harm as is evident in the decay in the country in every conceivable area. The latest crisis could lead to the country once again becoming the skunk of the world and a target for diplomatic, economic and political punitive measures.

For this reason this corrupt and incompetent ANC government should resign. The county just cannot afford this government anymore.

The Solidarity Movement, including Solidarity and AfriForum, took a stand today by declaring that no further reasons exists for the current state of disaster, which has been in operation for about 22 months, to remain in force. This comes after the state of disaster was extended again by the government.

According to Solidarity Movement Chairperson Flip Buys, it seems that the pandemic is now entering an endemic phase. Furthermore, it appears that increased group immunity against Covid-19 can now be detected with the Omicron variant, resulting in less serious illness and fewer deaths. “The fact that the virus is now endemic means the virus won’t disappear, but we will have to learn to live with the virus. It also means that exceptional measures by the state, such as those that can be instituted under a state of disaster, are no longer necessary in an effort to control the virus,” Buys said.

According to Buys, the Movement is also very concerned about the state of schools in South Africa due to the restrictions that hamper education. “The fact that many schools are still unable to return to a normal way of functioning intensifies the concerns about the future of a whole generation of learners,” Buys said.

Both AfriForum and Solidarity will proceed with legal action in order to ask the courts to end the state of disaster.

According to Kallie Kriel, Chief Executive of AfriForum, the state of disaster poses a threat to freedom, as it gives the government extraordinary power to dramatically restrict civil liberties without subjecting such power to parliamentary oversight and decision-making in any way. “The fact that the state of disaster can be prolonged repeatedly without parliamentary approval is a serious violation of sound democratic principles,” Kriel said.

According to Solidarity CEO Dr Dirk Hermann, the current state of disaster creates major uncertainty for workers, companies and the economy in general, and it must therefore be terminated. “The state of disaster enables government to implement at short notice measures that affect the livelihood of businesses and workers. This sword hanging over the economy creates uncertainty that hampers capital formation and further expansion at a time when economic growth is crucially important,” Hermann said.

According to Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s campaign manager, the organisation will submit its court documents soon. “AfriForum has already taken on several of the government’s outrageous measures, including the curfew regulations, state quarantine camps and the ban on religious gatherings. The time has come for the state of disaster to be lifted in its entirety,” Broodryk said.

Hermann concluded by saying declarations that the state of disaster could not be terminated at short notice conveniently forget about the regulations that had been introduced and enforced “with immediate effect” under the state of disaster.

Further details regarding the proposed legal action will be announced soon.

At a media conference held today, the Solidarity Movement encouraged its supporters to intensify their level of alertness, to remain calm amid the riots that are plaguing certain parts of the country, and to join their local neighbourhood watch.

According to Flip Buys, chairperson of the Solidarity Movement, faction fighting within the ANC, which initially led to the looting spree, provided a platform for criminal elements to abuse the situation to steal and to loot. Buys called on law enforcement to restore order and to arrest offenders. According to Buys, the public should, however, not leave their safety and that of their families and communities just to the SAPS because there is much that they can do themselves within the framework of the law to intensify their own levels of preparedness. “If you can protect yourself and your family, you can also protect your neighbours. If you can protect your neighbours, you can jointly protect your community,” Buys added. Buys encouraged people to join one of AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches that have been established countrywide or to join other community structures.

Kallie Kriel, AfriForum’s chief executive, said organised communities need not be plunged into fear, but can remain calm in the knowledge that their safety is in their own hands. According to Kriel it is not a strange phenomenon for communities to take responsibility for their own safety as several communities in KwaZulu-Natal have done in recent days. In the past Afrikaners have also assumed responsibility for their own safety whenever necessary. “In recent years, AfriForum has invested a great deal of resources in the establishment of community safety structures and already runs 159 neighbourhood watches, has a network of control rooms, a nationwide radio network, 12 500 neighbourhood watch volunteers, an air wing with 53 drone pilots and well-trained staff and volunteers. Apart from this, AfriForum collaborates with a network of other neighbourhood watches, GPF structures, security companies and, in many places, with local police stations,” Kriel said.

According to AfriForum Head of Safety Colonel Jan Wessels, AfriForum has already, at the onset of the riots, put its existing community safety plans into operation by having AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches on standby. Wessels pointed out that AfriForum’s control rooms and its structures on the ground are monitoring the situation closely, that guidelines have been issued to AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches to further fine-tune their existing safety plans with the current situation in mind. Neighbourhood watches were asked to increase visibility and to assist each other and other role players where necessary. “AfriForum will not involve itself in conflicts on highways and at other prominent places but will focus all its attention on being ready and prepared within the framework of the law to help ensure the safety of neighbourhoods where we operate,” Wessels said.

To join one of AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches, please visit www.afriforumbuurtwag.co.za.

The Solidarity Movement also calls on members of the public to contribute to the Movement’s Crisis Fund in support of Solidarity Helping Hand in KwaZulu-Natal to enable it to make essential provisions available to communities. Please use this link to contribute: www.krisisfonds.co.za.

The Solidarity Research Institute found in a comprehensive scientific report that vaccines are an effective and safe way to end the Covid-19 pandemic. The report also supports people’s freedom to decide for themselves. Strong criticism is also levelled at the government’s central control of the vaccine program and consequently it was also found that the private sector should become involved on a major scale.

According to Solidarity Movement Chairperson Flip Buys, large numbers of the Solidarity Movement’s members and other South Africans will have to make a decision regarding vaccinations within the next few weeks. “We want to enable our members and other South Africans to make decisions in a responsible way. Covid-19 is hitting all of us hard and everyone is longing for an end to the pandemic. With all the opinions, fake news and political agendas doing the rounds, good scientific research is essential. From the findings in the report, we can encourage our members to get the vaccines, but on condition that everyone must make their decision in a responsible way and take their own unique circumstances into account. The data indicate one risk that for most people is much greater than the vaccines, and that is not to get the vaccine.”

According to the report, in which a proper international study was done, it was found that vaccines are indeed effective. In countries such as Israel, the United Kingdom and Hungary, there is a direct link between the administration of vaccines, a decrease in infections and in particular a decrease in hospitalisation and deaths. Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson are effective. It is also on the basis of findings in this report that the Solidarity Movement can neither recommend the Chinese vaccine SinoVac nor the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. The availability of existing data is insufficient, with the result that no conclusion can be drawn at present on the efficacy of these two vaccines

An in-depth investigation was conducted into data on reports of side effects, as stated by Connie Mulder, head of the Solidarity Research Institute. “Proper scientific research has been done and original data have been used so that inferences are watertight. It has been found that the vaccines are indeed safe to a large extent. Like other medications, there are side effects, but for most people the risk posed by Covid-19 is much higher than the risk of getting the vaccine.”

Mulder also said that none of the vaccines can provide total protection against Covid-19. However, they do provide comprehensive protection against serious symptoms and death. It is probably not necessary for children to be vaccinated but parents can seek good medical advice from doctors.

Data show that claims that large numbers of people die due to vaccination are simply not true. The risk for blood clots and cardio-related side effects is small. Most of the side effects reported are mild and similar to those of any other vaccine.
The researchers also found that it is important that individuals who are already experiencing health problems, are currently ill and who have previously experienced side effects from vaccines should first contact their doctor to find out whether it would be safe for them to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

According to AfriForum Chief Executive Kallie Kriel, those who want to make a choice should be able to do so. “The government’s centralisation of vaccines is causing a bottleneck in the vaccination process. The fact that the process is being monopolised is unacceptable. The private sector must on a large scale be involved at all levels of the value chain. Not only is it important that people should be able to choose whether they want to be vaccinated or not, but they should also be able to choose which vaccine they want to receive.”

According to Solidarity Chief Executive Dr Dirk Hermann, Solidarity’s members, like so many other South African citizens, are currently being hard hit by the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Our members are tired of lockdowns and want to get rid of it. Vaccination can definitely play a major role in getting out of the pandemic. Levels of confidence in the government are justifiably so very low. There is a fine line between trust in the government and trust in vaccines. The government abused its power during the lockdown, eroded freedoms and created a breeding ground for scepticism about vaccines.

“What we now have to do is to consider the facts. We encourage all to assess their circumstances, make their decision (in a responsible way) and to exercise their freedom of choice,” Hermann concluded.

Download the report here: http://soli.online/2yq

The Solidarity Movement today welcomed the Constitutional Court’s ruling in terms of which Jacob Zuma was found guilty of contempt of court and was sentenced to imprisonment of 15 months.

According to Flip Buys, chairperson of the Solidarity Movement, Jacob Zuma’s conviction is a first step to let justice prevail against a former president who has dragged the country to the brink of the abyss  although cases against him are still pending for decades of offences.

Buys furthermore said that although this ruling should be seen in a positive light, much still needs to be done to restore the confidence of South Africans. “The fact of the matter is that South Africa is still plagued by unprecedented high levels of corruption that have been evident as recently as last year with the shameless looting of funds destined for aid. The real test will depend on whether or not this political elite can also be prosecuted successfully,” Buys said.

Buys further stated that the response to the ruling does indeed reflect South Africans’ collective feelings about the ruling elite that are disregarding the law with impunity. “Hopefully, this could usher in an era in which more accountability is expected from politicians and government officials,” Buys said.

According to Buys, the Movement is however skeptical whether Zuma would hand himself over and if not, whether he would be arrested. “It is widely known that Zuma and his followers still have several supporters within the ruling party. If Zuma does not hand himself over, deliberate action must be taken to effect his arrest,” Buys concluded.

The Solidarity Movement today expressed its sincere condolences towards the Zulu royal family and the Zulu community after it was announced that His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini passed away this morning.

According to Flip Buys, chairperson of the Solidarity Movement, the Movement and AfriForum in particular maintained good relationships with the royal family in order to achieve mutual recognition and respect between different cultural communities in South Africa.

According to Buys, King Zwelithini played a significant role in the cultural expression and identity of the Zulu community, and continually also showed respect for other cultural communities in a diverse country.

“As a Movement we are saddened to hear of the death of King Zwelithini. The country and the Zulu people in particular are poorer because of his death,” Buys said.

The Solidarity Movement said today there is no longer any reason why the current level of the lockdown regulations should not be relaxed to level 1 tonight. This follows after it became known earlier today that President Ramaphosa will address the country again tonight.

According to Solidarity Movement Chairperson Flip Buys, the infection rate in the country has dropped to such an extent that it would be irrational to keep the country on the same lockdown level as it was at the peak of the second wave. “The logic behind a lockdown is to slow down the infection rate to such an extent that hospitals have enough capacity to handle the number of patients that need care. However, that no longer a risk because the number of cases has virtually halved, as was the trend during the first wave,” Buys said.

According to Buys, there is no longer any reason to tie down the economy and destroy sectors such as tourism and the liquor industry, which have already almost been brought to their knees, by extending the level 3 regulations.

Furthermore, Connie Mulder, head of the Solidarity Research Institute, argues that the government’s insistence on lockdown regulations as the only measure to combat the spread of the virus is very short-sighted and does not do much to slow down the spread of the virus. However, it does succeed in accelerating the public’s distrust of the government.

“By introducing lockdown regulations that come into effect immediately without consulting the public and the necessary industries, members of the public are encouraged to revise their confidence in the government’s ability to act responsibly and rationally.”

Buys emphasises that the time has now come to urgently relax the lockdown measures. “Our message is clear – open up the country and stop treating the public like children. The only thing worse than the public managing the crisis by themselves is the government continuously trying to do so,” Buys said.

“The Solidarity Movement believes that the economy, together with working healthily and education provided healthily, can be opened up in a healthy way,” Buys concluded.

The Solidarity Movement today said that the ANC’s harmful economic policy is the main threat for pensions. This remains the case whether or not the government has, for the time being, put its resolve to enforce prescribed assets on ice.

The Movement also stated that especially asset managers should still remain particularly alert and act in the best interests of their members.

This comes after Minister Tito Mboweni in his MTBPS speech was the first to state that the government would try to make it easier for pension funds to invest in government projects on a voluntary basis. Subsequently, the Head of Infrastructure and Investment in the Presidency Dr Kgosientso Ramokgopa also alluded to convincing pension funds to invest in government projects.

According to Flip Buys, chairperson of the Solidarity Movement, it is understandable that South Africans are concerned about the future of their pension funds. “It is common knowledge that the government is facing a fiscal crisis due to, among other things, continuing mismanagement and corruption.”

“Pension funds are the proverbial pot of gold that could be invested in local projects to help stimulate the economy. The government has an extremely poor track record when it comes to the delivery of projects. To accept that this trend would change overnight and that such projects would now mean a significant return for pension fund members is mere wishful thinking,” Buys emphasised.

According to Buys, the ANC’s harmful economic policy is still a major millstone around the neck of the economy. “If the ruling party does not part with its harmful ideas, including expropriation without compensation, an excessively high government wage bill and persistent bailouts to obsolete state entities, the economy will keep on reeling,” Buys said.

The Solidarity Movement sent a letter of warning to President Ramaphosa and the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, cautioning them that any tightening of the existing lockdown restrictions would be ineffective and devastating for the economy and the citizens of the country.

It is expected that President Ramaphosa will address the nation early next week, after considering recommendations in a report by the health department.

“In the past, the government enforced measures that were ambiguous, impractical and irrational. We caution President Ramaphosa that we will challenge any further irrational and unreasonable measures in court,” said Flip Buys, chairperson of the Solidarity Movement.

“Fear of a second wave of the pandemic is constantly provoked, and every slight increase in numbers receives prominent attention. The reality is that the average rate of positive tests remains below 10% of those tested, while it was 30% when South Africa reached its peak,”  Buys said.

“Positive cases can easily be manipulated by increasing the number of tests in order to give the impression of a second wave. However, measuring the relationship between testing and positive cases would actually be the true measurement,” Buys said.

The Solidarity Movement strongly believes that drastic lockdown measures would not make a tangible difference in the number of positive cases. However, there will be decisive, tangible economic consequences due to drastic measures.

•    In the second quarter, 2,2 million people lost their jobs, and a significant number of them are the most vulnerable in South Africa.
•    The expected deficit in tax collection will amount to more than R300 billion.
•    The GDP fell by 16,4% in one quarter, which represents a 51% year-on-year decline.

The Solidarity Movement strongly advises the government not to introduce tighter lockdown measures, and the necessary legal steps will be taken should any absurd and unreasonable measures be introduced.