Lex Libertas launches new report series on the persecution of minorities in South Africa

Pretoria – Starting today, the South Africa-based think tank and advocacy group, Lex Libertas will be publishing a series of reports detailing the extent to which minority communities are being persecuted in South Africa. Given the length and detail of the complete report, titled Unmasking the Bully Within: The Persecution of Minorities by South Africa’s Ruling Elite, it will be published in a series of twelve sections throughout the upcoming weeks. Two sections will be published each week on Lex Libertas’ website, together with video discussions on social media. Once the entire series has been published, the entire report (all twelve sections combined) will be presented to President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Parliament of South Africa and various international stakeholders.

The complete report directly challenges recent claims by President Cyril Ramaphosa that South Africa is a victim of international “bullying”. Lex Libertas argues that this rhetoric stands in stark contrast to domestic realities, where political elites have for decades employed policies, rhetoric, and practices that amount to sustained bullying and persecution of minority communities.

“This report confronts a central contradiction,” said Dr Ernst Roets, Executive Director of Lex Libertas. “While the South African government condemns pressure from democratic nations abroad, it simultaneously defends racially discriminatory laws, violent rhetoric, confiscation of property, and the denial of minority rights at home. That is not moral leadership—it is a hypocrisy that should be pointed out through credible research.”

The report will start with an introduction (published today) and conclude with a summary and outline of the way forward. Between the introduction and summary, the following ten categories of state-enabled abuse will be detailed:

1. Violent and Genocidal Rhetoric: Influential politicians, including allies of the ruling party, have promoted chants and speeches glorifying the extermination of minorities.

1. Vilification, Scapegoating, and Blame-Shifting: Elites, including Ramaphosa and allies, routinely blame minorities for national woes, fostering division.

1. A Vast Network of Exclusionary Race Laws: Over 145 laws discriminate against minorities in employment and opportunities, despite claims of empowerment.

1. The Confiscation of Legally Owned Private Property Belonging to Minorities: Policies enable seizure without compensation, with racial targeting explicit in leadership statements.

1. Unfettered Land Grabs and Land Invasions: Illegal occupations exploit legal loopholes, often resulting in permanent loss for owners.

1. An Ongoing Scourge of Farm Murders: Exceptionally violent attacks on farms, linked to political incitement, with victims blamed by officials.

1. Death by Regulation: Overregulation hinders self-reliance in security and utilities, exacerbating government failures.

1. Denial of Rights: Interpretations of democracy grant fewer rights to minorities, with courts upholding discriminatory rulings.

1. Public Denial by the President: Ramaphosa has repeatedly denied these issues in international forums, including meetings with U.S. leaders.

1. International Positioning and Diplomatic Contradictions: While claiming victimhood from democratic nations, South Africa aligns with repressive regimes, praising policies that suppress minorities.

The initiative forms part of a broader effort by Lex Libertas to strengthen research, inform the public, and mobilise both local and international support for a more just and viable political order in South Africa—one grounded in decentralisation, self-governance, and equal dignity for all communities.

• Click here to read the introduction to the report.
• Click here to watch the video in which the introduction is explained.

Lex Libertas is a think tank and advocacy group working towards a viable political dispensation in South Africa, based on the principles of freedom, decentralisation, and self-governance.

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