South African Court Rejects White Genocide Claims, Blocks Donation to Supremacist Group
Cape Town, South Africa – A South African court has dismissed claims of a "white genocide" in the country, labeling them "clearly imagined" and "not real," in a ruling that challenges assertions made by U.S. President Donald Trump and his adviser, Elon Musk. The decision, issued on February 15, 2025, by Judge Rosheni Allie, also invalidated a $2.1 million bequest from Grantland Michael Bray to the white supremacist group Boerelegioen, citing its promotion of racial hatred and violation of public policy.
The case stemmed from a legal challenge by Bray’s four siblings, who are trustees and beneficiaries of the family trust. They argued that Bray, who died in March 2022, had become fixated on the notion of an impending "genocide" against white South Africans in the decade before his death. Bray, paralyzed at 26 following a military service accident, was described as increasingly paranoid, influenced by racist ideologies and online content. In 2020, he allegedly donated $326,000 in gold coins to Boerelegioen to secure membership and support its cause.
Boerelegioen, which describes itself as a "civil defense movement" to protect white South Africans from alleged threats, was named a beneficiary in Bray’s will. However, the court found the bequest invalid due to ambiguity over which of three entities named Boerelegioen was intended to benefit. Judge Allie noted Bray’s explicit intent to fund training programs for an organization he believed would "exterminate every black person in South Africa" and defend against a fabricated white genocide.
The court ruled that the donation contravened public policy, as Boerelegioen’s activities promoted "messages of racial hatred and separation." Boerelegioen, which claims to offer security and training services without racial exclusion, was ordered to cover the legal costs of the case.
The ruling undermines claims by Trump, who has spoken of "large-scale killing of farmers" in South Africa, and Musk, who has criticized the country’s land ownership laws and referenced a "genocide of white people." Trump has previously suggested that white South African farmers could seek refuge in the U.S. due to alleged persecution. Earlier this month, he issued an executive order halting financial aid to South Africa in response to a new law permitting land seizures under specific conditions.
The issue of white South African farmers has been a focal point for right-wing and far-right groups in the U.S. However, South African crime statistics tell a different story. Between October and December 2024, 6,953 murders were recorded nationwide, with only 12 occurring during farm attacks. Of these, one victim was a farmer, five were farm dwellers, and four were employees, most likely black. In comparison, 961 women and 273 children were murdered during the same period, highlighting broader violence not specific to race.
The court’s decision reinforces South Africa’s commitment to rejecting racially divisive narratives and upholding public policy against hate-driven agendas.
This article is published by Nile Chronicles, committed to factual and impartial reporting.
