South African Court Denies White Genocide Claims, Dismisses Donation to Supremacist Group

The court's decision comes in the context of rising allegations of white genocide in South Africa, which have drawn attention from international figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

In a landmark ruling, a South African court has categorically dismissed claims of a white genocide within the country as "clearly imagined" and "not real." This judgment accompanies the court's rejection of a $2.1 million donation intended for the white supremacist group Boerelegioen. The plaintiff, Grantland Michael Bray, had aimed to fund the group's initiatives centered on racial separation and hatred. However, the court deemed his request to be both vague and contradictory to public policy.

These troubling assertions about white genocide have gained traction internationally, bolstered by remarks from prominent figures such as Donald Trump, who recently cited the "large-scale killing of farmers" in South Africa, and Elon Musk, who has criticized alleged "racist ownership laws." Trump had even suggested that white South African farmers should qualify as refugees in the U.S. due to supposed persecution.

The court's decision was influenced by Bray's siblings, who argued that he had become increasingly fixated on the idea of imminent genocide during the last decade of his life. Judge Rosheni Allie noted in the February ruling that Bray's beliefs were largely fueled by a combination of paranoia and exposure to extremist online content. Bray, who became paralyzed after a military accident, had apparently contributed approximately $326,000 to Boerelegioen prior to his death in March 2022.

Boerelegioen portrays itself as a "civil defense movement" advocating for the rights and safety of white South Africans, claiming to provide security services without discrimination. Despite this claim, the court found substantial evidence that Bray's intentions were aligned with promoting racial hatred.

The ruling reflects broader tensions surrounding the status of white South Africans, often politicized in American discourse, particularly by right-leaning groups. Local crime statistics reveal contradictory narratives, indicating that while crime in South Africa is a serious issue, the actual threat to white farmers is overstated. From October to December 2024, the total murder count was 6,953, but only 12 fatalities were recorded related to farm attacks, with victims including individuals from various backgrounds.

This ruling has wider implications, especially as political dynamics evolve in both South Africa and the United States, with issues of race and land ownership continuing to incite debate and action.