AfriForum and Solidarity have held talks with the United States ambassador as tensions continue between Washington and Pretoria.

AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel confirmed that several organisations personally delivered proposals during a meeting at the US Embassy.

The groups included AfriForum, Solidarity, the Southern African Agri Initiative, the National Employers’ Association of South Africa and the Freedom Front Plus.

Kriel said the proposals were aimed at finding solutions that would promote progress for all South Africans.

“Our proposals will promote progress that benefits everyone in South Africa,” he said.

Concerns raised in talks

The organisations raised concerns about property rights, rural safety and issues they say affect Afrikaners and other minority groups.

Kriel said broad sanctions against South Africa would hurt all citizens, not only those involved in the political dispute.

He said the organisations wanted to prevent tensions from escalating further.

However, Kriel declined to share the full details of the talks, citing the sensitivity of the diplomatic process.

The meeting follows months of engagement with both the South African and American governments.

Washington-Pretoria ties strained

Relations between the US and South Africa have been under pressure following claims by US President Donald Trump about the treatment of Afrikaners.

Trump has claimed that Afrikaners are being persecuted, killed and having their land taken.

AfriForum and Solidarity previously asked that any US action target ANC leaders instead of the broader South African economy.

The groups also travelled to Washington in an effort to prevent broad economic measures from being imposed on South Africa.

Wider diplomatic pressure

The US-South Africa relationship has also been affected by several policy disputes.

These include South Africa’s foreign policy positions, military exercises with Russia and China, its ICJ case against Israel and the Expropriation Act.

Washington has characterised the Expropriation Act as a threat to property rights.

AfriForum and Solidarity have been lobbying the Trump administration since 2025.

They previously presented the Washington Memorandum, which called for cultural protections and assistance for Afrikaners.

South Africa’s exclusion from the 2026 G20 by the United States has added further pressure to relations.

Trade arrangements and possible sanctions are still under review.