Organiser of 'bring white farmers to Australia' campaign speaks out
South African-born Arno Nel is organising protests in Australia to demand the fast-tracking of visas for white South African farmers.
More than 50 000 people, mostly Australians, signed a petition claiming there is a "sense of emergency" in South Africa with white farmers being deliberately killed because of their race.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) was recently involved in a diplomatic spat with the Australian government, demanding that its Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton retract comments that white farmers are the victims of genocide.
There were also several protests in Canberra demanding visas for white South African farmers who are being "savagely attacked".
While Nel cautions against the use of the term white genocide he argues that "look at the facts, look at the people being affected, look at the children before we just focus on statistics because statistics takes away what its really about."
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The Australian government cautions citizens traveling to South Africa to be on high alert.
"It's time that people own up to it, its time that South Africa says yes, we have a problem but how do you address a problem if you not even willing to say you have a problem?" Nel asks.
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Government has requested that the advisory be retracted.
Nel says numerous applications for visas under the humanitarian system have been received but hopes that the special visa for South Africans be made available as soon as possible.