01 December 2022 Dr Volker Türk The High Commissioner for Human Rights Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Palais Wilson 52 rue de Pâquis CH-1201 GENEVA Switzerland Mr Chairperson RE: THE SITUATION OF MINORITY RIGHTS AND MINORITY RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN SOUTH AFRICA If racism is measured by the amount of race laws that a government implements, the South African government surely constitutes the most racist government in the world, with more than 125 race laws currently in force in South Africa. The private sphere is also culpable, with major corporations shamelessly enforcing moratoriums on the appointment and promotion of minorities. During the Covid-19 lockdown, small businesses were legally barred from receiving government lockdown relief based on racial criteria. An organisation on the frontline of the fight against gender based violence was also barred from funding based on the same racial criteria. Julius Malema, one of South Africa’s most influential political leaders has publicly stated that he might one day call for the slaughter of the white minority. He testified in court that he cannot pledge that he will not call for the slaughtering of minorities, as he foresees that he might do so in the future. But that’s not all, he has repeatedly and publicly encouraged his supporters to inflict violence against minorities, to take their property and chase them off their property that legally and legitimately belongs to them. In a recent speech, he shamelessly called on his supporters to kill those who stand in the way of his party’s revolution. Despite Malema’s obvious racism and hatred for minorities, the president has invited him to join the ruling party. South Africa has witnessed a scourge of farm murders, largely directed against minorities. There have been on average two farm attacks every day and two farm murders every week