Lobby group AfriForum on Monday claimed that the “reckless” actions and policies of President Cyril Ramaphosa and other African National Congress (ANC) leaders are directly responsible for South Africa’s deteriorated relationship with the US.

On Sunday, in a rare address to the nation, Ramaphosa said it was “regrettable” that the US chose not to participate in the G20 Leaders’ Summit and the final meetings leading up to it.

“It is even more unfortunate that the reasons the US gave for its non-participation were based on baseless and false allegations that South Africa is perpetrating genocide against Afrikaners and the confiscation of land from white people,” he said.

Earlier this week, government formally handed over the G20 Presidency for 2026 to the US, despite tensions.

AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said during his Sunday speech, “Ramaphosa attempted to evade responsibility for the negative consequences of his own actions by falsely portraying the diplomatic crisis with the US as the result of so-called disinformation spread by groups in South Africa.”

Ramaphosa said government was aware that the stance taken by the US administration had been influenced by a “sustained campaign of disinformation” by groups and individuals in the country, in the US and elsewhere.

Kriel said it was understandable that Ramaphosa did not name those he accused of disinformation, as there were “no facts” about who allegedly spread disinformation or, when and where it took place.

AfriForum and its associated organisations, including Solidarity, have been accused of initiating a disinformation campaign against South Africa, in the US.

“Media institutions that attempted to accuse AfriForum of disinformation have already had to officially apologise to AfriForum on eight occasions for spreading lies about AfriForum,” Kriel added, referring to court proceedings that had been settled in AfriForum's favour.

He blamed Ramaphosa’s signing of the Expropriation Act for US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw numerous forms of US funding from South Africa.

“Ramaphosa’s signing of the Bela Act, which threatens the survival of Afrikaans schools and consequently Afrikaans cultural communities, also sent a strong message to the US that Afrikaans-speaking minorities in the country are being targeted. This message has been reinforced by the fact that Ramaphosa still flatly refuses to condemn the ‘Kill the Boer’ call for ethnic violence against Afrikaners,” he added.

Kriel reaffirmed that AfriForum was committed to playing a “constructive role” in salvaging South Africa’s deteriorating relationship with the US.

AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement said they had presented proposed solutions to Ramaphosa and other ANC leaders on several occasions, that have allegedly been ignored.

“Ramaphosa’s blatant disregard for attempts to find solutions makes a mockery of his statement that he is committed to finding ‘South African solutions to South African problems’,” said Kriel.