The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus), a South African conservative party advocating for Afrikaner self-determination, has had its X account suspended, igniting debate as the party’s leadership, including Dr. Corné Mulder, is currently engaged in a high-profile visit to the United States.
The suspension, noted on June 24, 2025, at 11:05 PM SAST, coincides precisely with the start of their bilateral engagement, which began with a discussion at the influential Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C..
The party, part of South Africa’s 2024 Government of National Unity coalition, has not yet issued a statement regarding the suspension.
VF Plus, recognized for opposing affirmative action and supporting Cape independence, is leveraging this U.S. visit to present a compelling case for South Africa’s future.
According to statements from Dr. Mulder dated June 23 and 24, 2025, the party is not approaching the U.S. “cap in hand” but with a genuine concern for the nation’s trajectory, aiming to restore it as a progressive, successful country.
The delegation, which includes Dr. Theo de Jager of the Southern African Agri Initiative and Mr. Gerhard Papenfus of the National Employers Association of South Africa, emphasizes the Afrikaner community’s resilience, skills, and commitment to fostering economic growth and mutual respect for all South Africans.
They argue that three decades of ANC-led race-based legislation, such as Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), have benefited a select group of elites while hindering the country’s potential to become Africa’s economic powerhouse.
The party contends that these policies deter investors and disproportionately harm the black majority, whom they identify as the biggest losers under the current system.
The U.S. visit, themed “An Afrikaner Perspective on US–South Africa Relations,” seeks to collaborate with American counterparts to remove these obstacles.
VF Plus plans to address critical issues, including farm murders and escalating crime rates, which they believe were inadequately covered during a recent Oval Office meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Cyril Ramaphosa.
The party also intends to tackle South Africa’s geopolitical alignments with Iran, Cuba, and China, which they see as straining bilateral relations, a topic they feel was overlooked in prior discussions.
This agenda aligns with the Hudson Institute’s interest, spurred by Trump’s consideration of refugee status for Afrikaners, a move that has heightened U.S.-South Africa tensions.
The suspension’s timing, occurring as these discussions unfold, raises significant questions about external influence. The @VFPlus account was flagged with a generic message, “Account suspended. X suspends accounts that violate Our Rules,” yet X has not disclosed specific violations, fueling speculation about inconsistent moderation or targeted interference, possibly through mass reporting by political rivals, as suggested by supporters on X.
Local activists are urging Elon Musk to intervene, viewing the suspension as a potential threat to free speech.
With no official response from VF Plus via @muldercorn or other channels as of now, the controversy casts a shadow over their efforts to reshape international perceptions of South Africa’s challenges and opportunities during this pivotal U.S. engagement.
Leave a Reply