In South Africa, a hillside adorned with nearly 3,000 white crosses at the Witkruis Monument serves as a poignant reminder of the lives lost among white farmers over the past three decades. However, this poignant scene only recounts a fragment of the tale. The narrative it perpetuates – one of racial targeting – has been widely debunked by studies that underscore the indiscriminate nature of farm attacks, affecting all racial groups within the country.
This distorted narrative has gained traction internationally, notably through the voices of conservative commentators in the United States and beyond, including influential figures such as South African-born Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump. The rhetoric escalated last month when Trump described the violence against white farmers as “genocide,” further polarizing the issue.
The South African government and experts have vehemently denounced the misinformation spread by Trump and others. Even the caretaker of the Witkruis Monument, Kobus de Lange, acknowledges that the monument does not tell the complete story, as it excludes the hundreds of Black South African farmers and farmworkers who have also fallen victim to these attacks. De Lange noted, “It’s across the board, there are black farmers that’s also attacked, but it’s not as much as the white farmers that is attacked, and it’s not as brutal.” He highlighted the significant impact on farmworkers, who not only lose their income but are also subjected to torture and held for information before the attackers move on to the farmer’s house.
According to available statistics and studies conducted over the last 25 years, the killings of farmers and farmworkers account for a tiny fraction of South Africa’s high crime rate, typically occurring during armed robberies. The disproportionate effect on white farmers is largely due to their significant ownership of privately owned farms, standing at 72% according to census data. In contrast, Black people own just 4% of the country’s privately owned farmland, with the remainder owned by individuals of mixed race or Indian heritage.
Gareth Newman, a crime expert at the Institute for Security Studies think tank in Pretoria, attributes the misinformation about farm killings to right-wing political groups within South Africa and abroad. Some fringe groups in South Africa, which lack official power and boycotted the country’s first democratic elections in 1994, have perpetuated a debunked theory of persecution. Newman explains that these groups have maintained these beliefs to foster social cohesion, secure funding, and garner support, finding allies in right-wing groups internationally because it fits their narrative.
In summary, while the Witkruis Monument stands as a testament to the lives lost among white farmers in South Africa, it is essential to recognize the broader context of farm attacks and their impact across all racial groups. The spread of misinformation, fueled by political groups and amplified by international figures, has led to a distorted narrative that neglects the complexity of the issue. Understanding the full scope of farm killings, including their root causes and indiscriminate nature, is crucial for addressing the problem effectively and fostering a more inclusive and accurate dialogue.
