Niehaus puts ministers on the spot over white genocide claim - IOL
EFF MP Carl Niehaus has submitted questions to several ministers on issues including immigration, unemployment, municipal services and electricity ahead of the November local government elections.
EFF MP Carl Niehaus has put a range of questions to government ministers, including over the so-called “white genocide” claim, undocumented immigration, unemployment, municipal service delivery and electricity interruptions ahead of the November local government elections.
The questions for written reply were submitted to the National Assembly on Sunday.
In a question to International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola, Niehaus asks whether the department has taken diplomatic and public-communication steps to rebut what he describes as a false claim of a “white genocide” in South Africa.
His question refers to the reported planting of 3 000 white crosses on the National Mall in Washington, DC, on September 26, and asks whether the South African Embassy in Washington has taken any action in response.
Niehaus also asks Lamola whether he agrees that the actions of Lex Libertas, AfriForum chief executive Kallie Kriel and Ernst Roets should constitute treason and whether steps should be taken to bring charges against them. The question does not establish that any of the individuals named have committed treason or that they are facing such charges.
Niehaus also questioned Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa on the state of municipalities ahead of the November 4 local government elections.
He wants to know how many municipalities are currently under Section 139 intervention and how many have been classified as dysfunctional or in financial distress.
He also asks what specific interventions will be completed before the elections to restore water, electricity and refuse-removal services in affected municipalities.
Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth has been asked about job creation following the latest unemployment figures.
Niehaus asks how many sustainable jobs have been created through public employment programmes since April 1 and what additional measures will be introduced during the remainder of the 2026/27 financial year to address youth unemployment.
Statistics South Africa reported in August that the official unemployment rate had risen to 33.6% in the second quarter of 2026, with the number of unemployed people increasing to 8.5 million.
Niehaus has separately asked Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber for the number of undocumented foreign nationals deported since January 1, as well as an estimate of how many remain in South Africa.
He also wants to know what steps have been taken to secure the country's land borders against illegal re-entry.
Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina faces questions about municipal debt to water boards.
Niehaus asks for the current total amount owed by municipalities and what enforcement measures the department intends taking against municipalities that default, particularly while some households continue to experience interruptions to their water supply.
Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has also been asked to clarify the distinction between “load reduction” and load shedding.
Niehaus asks whether load reduction should be regarded as distinct from load shedding or whether the two terms effectively describe the same interruption of electricity supply.
He further asks whether continued load reduction indicates vulnerabilities in the national grid and local distribution networks, and what measures are in place to prevent load shedding or load reduction during the local government elections on November 4.
The questions come as Eskom continues a programme aimed at reducing the number of customers affected by load reduction, which is generally used in specific areas where local networks are under pressure, rather than as a national supply measure.
IOL has approached the relevant government departments and other parties named in the questions for comment and will update the story should responses be received.
