Controversial organisation, AfriForum gets a 20% discount for its members at Auto Pedigree.
Image: Auto Pedigree's website
Auto Pedigree has come under fire over a 20% discount that the business offers to AfriForum members.
The deal for AfriForum members, which is a predominantly Afrikaner civil society group, allows for a discount on all vehicle services through a clear mutual agreement with the controversial non-profit.
AfriForum is currently under fire from the public, political parties and other NGOs, for reporting South Africa to the US government over non-existent white genocide and land grabs in the country, over a dispute over the recently signed land policy.
AfriForum is unhappy about the Expropriation Act which was signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in January. US President Donald Trump last week issued executive orders slamming Pretoria and accusing it of “egregious actions” without providing any evidence, saying the recently enacted land policy would seize ethnic minority Afrikaners’ agricultural property without compensation. Trump also issued an executive order for the prioritisation of white Afrikaner South Africans through the United States refugee programme.
Trump's offer has been largely rejected by AfriForum, Solidarity, Orania and prominent Afrikaner leaders, although reports said at least 10,000 Afrikaners had inquired about the refugee programme by Monday.
AfriForum has been in hot over the last few days as it faces criticism after several organisations and political parties opened treason cases against the non-profit at police stations.
It is unclear when AfriForum and Auto Pedigree entered into the deal, but according to AfriForum’s website, their 300,000 members qualify for a 20% discount on vehicle services, fitment, and repairs through automotive diagnostic solutions at Auto Pedigree service centres.
“The member benefit is available at all the Auto Pedigree service centres in South Africa,” according to the AfriForum website.
Some X users react with disgust.
An X user took to social media to express his disdain at the relationship between Auto Pedigree and AfriForum.
Several people reacted to his post with shock and anger at the perceived preferential treatment these AfriForum members are getting even though they are allegedly a racist organisation.
IOL Business reached out to Auto Pedigree to determine their rationale for the AfriForum discount.
According to Danie Snyman, their legal adviser, the company said that in order to create a footprint in the South African market, a discount structure of 20% is offered to every single client at the point of sale, if requested.
Moreover, he said that the company provided discounts to the South African Police Service (SAPS), some teacher unions and other corporate entities.
When pushed on where this is shown on their website or where it was advertised that all South Africans get a discount, Snyman failed to provide any evidence of this and said, "We submit that we have provided you with our formal response".
Auto Pedigree said that AfriForum simply knew about the discount and informed its members of this option on its official website.
"The validation of membership numbers is purely for record purposes from an AfriForum point of view," Snyman said.
When questioned about whether Auto Pedigree requested AfriForum to remove the statement from their website due to its potentially exclusionary nature, and the potential perception that Auto Pedigree was endorsing an organisation that fuels racial tensions, the company failed to provide a satisfactory response.
"We reiterate that the Auto Pedigree Group, including Auto Pedigree Service Centres, does not align itself with any specific racial or political group, including but not limited to AfriForum, and is here to serve South Africa and all its residents as a law-abiding and responsible corporate citizen," Snyman said.
"We regard this matter as closed."
On Monday, the African National Congress (ANC) in Western Cape said it fully supports the action taken by its members Eric Kweleta, Phindile George and the Khayelitsha community, who opened a treason case against AfriForum and Solidarity. The MK Party also opened a treason case against AfriForum, describing their actions as economic sabotage.
“These organisations, backed by foreign interests, have engaged in misinformation campaigns, attempted to delegitimise the Government of National Unity (GNU), and fuelled racial tensions,” said ANC Western Cape provincial secretary, Neville Delport.
He said the actions of AfriForum violate key South African laws, including the Constitution; the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act; the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Act; the Treason Act and the Electronic Communications Act.
IOL BUSINESS
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