South Africa Rejects U.S. Human Rights Report as ‘Inaccurate and Deeply Flawed’

Johannesburg – South Africa has rejected a recent report from the U.S. State Department that claims human rights violations on farms, calling it “inaccurate and fundamentally flawed.”

“We view the report as a misrepresentation that fails to capture the essence of our constitutional democracy,” declared South Africa’s Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation.

“The report’s reliance on context-free information and discredited allegations is particularly concerning.

“It refers to an incident involving the deaths of farm workers, and while this case is currently under examination by our independent judiciary, it misleadingly portrays it as an extrajudicial killing.”

In a strongly worded statement released late on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, the ministry emphasized that the report was not only untimely but also a significant distortion of the facts, especially since the individuals involved are legally charged.

“Similarly, incidents of police using force are mentioned without acknowledging the rigorous procedures in place, where institutions dedicated to safeguarding our democracy are actively investigating whether due process was followed and if such force was warranted,” noted the statement from Chrispin Phiri, Spokesperson for the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.

The statement elaborated further: “South Africa upholds a transparent system where information is readily available from our law enforcement agencies and Chapter 9 institutions, which are constitutionally tasked with upholding and promoting human rights.

“It is ironic that a report from a nation that has exited the UN Human Rights Council and no longer sees itself accountable in a multilateral peer review context would attempt to issue one-sided, fact-free reports without due process or engagement.

“This is particularly striking in light of the substantial and documented human rights concerns within the United States, including the treatment of refugees and due process violations by its own agencies, such as ICE.

“In contrast to the U.S. report, we highlight the recent assessment from the United Nations Human Rights Office in Geneva.”

The unfounded allegations of human rights abuses emerged shortly after South Africa implemented legislation regulating property expropriation, which also attracted criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump.

However, the UN has described South Africa’s Land Expropriation Act, signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa, as a “critical step in rectifying the country’s racially disproportionate land ownership.”

The ministry stressed: “This acknowledgment from the UN’s principal human rights body underscores the legitimacy of our legislative processes aimed at addressing historical injustices in a constitutional and human rights-focused way.

“To ensure a complete and accurate representation, we are curating a collection of documents that will be made available for public review during the week.”

The ministry noted that a brief examination of reports from the South African Human Rights Commission and the UN Human Rights Council, along with articles from reputable news organizations like AFP, helps clarify the inaccuracies and reaffirms South Africa’s unwavering commitment to human rights.

The ministry detailed the misrepresented information in the U.S. report as follows:
1. Erroneous data misconstruing the complex situation in South Africa: https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.36ZD7HY /  / https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-trumps-claims-of-white-farmer-genocide-in-south-africa
2. Tears and outrage in South Africa as the accused in the pig farm murder is released: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c24z9q10lm5o
3. Presidential Response on July unrest: https://www.gov.za/news/speeches/president-cyril-ramaphosa-statement-south-african-human-rights-commission

“We remain open to resolving these inaccuracies through diplomatic channels,” Phiri stated.