White Farmers Prepare for War as They Fight to Keep Lands Stolen from Black South Africans

https://www.facebook.com/irritatedgenieofsoufeese/videos/828923293969243/

South Africa’s white minority is prepared to fight back amid the government’s plan to seize  “their” lands in an effort to rectify what’s been dubbed the nation’s “original sin.”

According to ITV News, Boers, or white farmers, have begun arming themselves as racial tensions continue to rise between themselves and Black South Africans. It was earlier this year when president Cyril Ramaphosa announced his intention to expropriate white farmland without compensation and see that it was returned “to the people from whom it was taken.”

Ramaphosa’s plan has since sparked fear and anger among the nation’s white farmers who are staunchly opposed to seeing their lands go back to the Black majority. The controversy has reportedly led to several violent attacks against Boers by native South Africans.

Tanya Wagener said she decided to take up arms after her home was robbed. She said racial tensions are at an all-time right now.

“A few years back, you wouldn’t have noticed it,” Wagener told ITV News. “You knew there was a high crime rate. You knew what was going on in the country, [but] now it’s different. When you leave home you can feel the animosity. It is like your skin color depicts who you are, not your soul.”

When asked about land expropriation plans, Wagener said she and her family have been left with very few options.

“I’m at that point because I have a little girl who’s just only turning two years old that me and my husband have two choices: either we stay here [and fight] or we emigrate,” she said.

So it’s “killed or be killed?” the interviewer asked.

“Yes,” Wagener responded.

Watch more of the video above.

Subscribe To The ABS Newsletter — Get our stories in your inbox.

Independent journalism still matters.

We hope this story was worth your time. For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed Black-owned and independently run. We didn't get here by waiting on ad budgets that were never built to prioritize us. Our readers did that.

Corporate support for Black media has always been thin. Outlets like ours get roughly 1% of the $170 billion spent on U.S. advertising each year, and that margin is shrinking further as advertisers walk back the DEI-linked commitments they made in 2020. That's the backdrop. It's not why we're asking.

The wider picture isn't any steadier. Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under, it's rarely the ones built to center a Black perspective from the ground up that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Latest from Atlanta Black Star

Back to top