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South Africa’s government has pushed back strongly against the latest U.S. State Department human rights report, describing it as inaccurate, biased, and a distortion of the country’s constitutional and democratic systems.
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola expressed “deep disappointment” with the document, while his department emphasized that the findings misrepresent South Africa’s judicial processes and human rights protections.
Speaking on behalf of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said the report relied on “discredited accounts and a-contextual information” that painted an unfair picture of South Africa.
One example cited was the report’s description of the deaths of farm workers as extrajudicial killings, despite the fact that the case is before the courts. “This is not only premature but a fundamental distortion of the facts, as those implicated have been formally arraigned in court,” Phiri explained.
He also criticized the way the report handled incidents of police use of force, noting that South Africa has constitutionally mandated oversight mechanisms to investigate and hold law enforcement accountable. “Our institutions actively examine whether due process was followed and whether such force was justified,” Phiri said.
The South African government stressed that its system is transparent, with law enforcement agencies and Chapter 9 institutions, bodies established under the Constitution to safeguard human rights, playing a central role in accountability.
Phiri further noted the irony of Washington issuing judgments on other countries while withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council, which serves as the primary multilateral forum for peer review. “It is striking that a nation with serious, well-documented human rights issues of its own would issue one-sided reports without consultation or due process,” he said.
The government pointed to U.S. domestic challenges, including the treatment of migrants, racial inequality, and violations by agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as examples of double standards.
South Africa contrasted the U.S. assessment with recent recognition from the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva, which praised the country’s land reform program as a legitimate, constitutional effort to address apartheid-era injustices.
“This endorsement from the UN demonstrates the integrity of our legislative framework, which is designed to advance justice and human rights within the rule of law,” Phiri said. He added that the government would soon release documentation, including findings from the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and reputable news sources, to “set the record straight.”
The U.S. report claimed multiple instances of unlawful killings, abuses, and failures in governance. Among the allegations:
• Extrajudicial killings: It cited police shootings of at least 40 suspects between April and July 2024, and six more in Durban in September.
• 2021 unrest: The report highlighted the SAHRC’s findings from the KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng riots, which left 337 dead, pointing to police intelligence and coordination failures.
• Farm murders: AFP data referenced in the report claimed 447 murders occurred on farms and smallholdings between October 2023 and September 2024.
• EFF rhetoric: It accused the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) of encouraging violence by singing the controversial struggle song “Kill the Boer.” However, South Africa’s Constitutional Court has ruled that the chant does not constitute incitement to violence or hate speech.
• Violence against migrants: The report claimed refugees and asylum seekers faced abuse from police and immigration officials, particularly in economically deprived communities.
The South African government categorically denied the allegations, stressing that the report ignored judicial processes, oversight bodies, and the country’s progressive constitutional framework.
“Reports from credible institutions like the SAHRC, the UN Human Rights Council, and independent news agencies directly contradict these distortions,” Phiri said. “South Africa remains committed to upholding human rights and advancing justice, consistent with both domestic law and international standards.”
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