Ernst Roets Reflects on Ben Shapiro Interview and Two Week American Tour Discussing South Africa's State Failure
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Ernst Roets Reflects on Ben Shapiro Interview and Two Week American Tour Discussing South Africa's State Failure
Ernst Roets shares behind-the-scenes insights from his extensive American tour, including his conversation with Ben Shapiro on The Daily Wire. Fresh off a 10,000-kilometer flight, Roets discusses what he and Shapiro covered in their interview about South Africa's state failure, ANC double standards on morality, farm murders, hate speech laws, and the parallels between America's DEI policies and South Africa's BEE system. The interview, set to be published soon, represents one of five major podcasts Roets recorded during his demanding two-and-a-half-week trip that included twelve strategic meetings and a conference with the New York Young Republican Club.
March 29, 2025
A Grueling but Productive American Journey
Speaking from an airport after completing a 10,000-kilometer transatlantic flight, Ernst Roets provided his audience with an update on what turned out to be an extraordinarily packed American tour. What was actually a two-and-a-half-week trip felt like two months due to the intensity of the schedule. Roets completed five podcast interviews, including some of the biggest platforms not just in America but globally, along with twelve strategic meetings and a well-received conference at the New York Young Republican Club.
For much of the journey, Roets traveled alone, but was later joined by a delegation from AfriForum while in Washington and for the New York event. The centerpiece of the trip was his conversation with Ben Shapiro for The Daily Wire, which generated significant interest and questions from his audience.
Inside the Ben Shapiro Interview
The Shapiro interview, scheduled for publication the following week on The Daily Wire and potentially YouTube, lasted between twenty and thirty minutes. Despite not being a long-format discussion, Roets described it as "incredibly well packed" and systematic in its approach. Rather than a simple question-and-answer format, the conversation flowed naturally between the two.
Roets and Shapiro covered substantial ground in their discussion. They addressed South Africa's ongoing state failure, the double standards exhibited by the ANC government, particularly regarding their claims of moral consistency when bringing the Israel case before international bodies. Roets challenged this notion by examining what the ANC's sense of morality actually entails and how consistently they apply it.
Exposing South Africa's Forgotten Crisis
A key theme of the interview was educating American audiences about South Africa's current reality. Roets explained that many Americans knew a great deal about South Africa in the 1990s, but that global attention and news coverage completely shut down afterward. The world turned away, assuming South Africa had become the miracle story many hoped for. The shock comes when people discover that South Africa isn't the success story they believed it to be for the past few decades.
The conversation delved into specific issues plaguing South Africa: hate speech laws, farm murders, and threats to property rights. Roets provided context on where things went wrong and explained the ideologies underpinning radical movements in the country, particularly the EFF but also the ANC.
Drawing Parallels Between American DEI and South African BEE
One of the more illuminating portions of the discussion involved comparing racial policies in America and South Africa. Roets explained to Shapiro that while America has DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), South Africa has BEE (Black Economic Empowerment). He made a nuanced observation: while gender-related issues are much worse in America, race-based laws, hate speech legislation, and racial discrimination are actually worse in South Africa when you examine the legal frameworks.
Solutions, Not Just Problems
The interview didn't stop at identifying problems. Roets and Shapiro discussed potential solutions and what could be done to address South Africa's challenges. This solution-oriented approach gave the conversation practical value beyond simply documenting the crisis.
A Professional and Supportive Experience
Roets expressed genuine appreciation for how Ben Shapiro conducted the interview. He described Shapiro as not just professional, but welcoming, accommodating, friendly, and supportive. The two continued their conversation after the cameras stopped rolling, discussing potential future projects and ideas for collaboration. Roets indicated these conversations would continue, suggesting potential ongoing cooperation between the two.
Looking Ahead: The Pioneer Initiative
The timing of the American tour was particularly demanding because Roets had launched the Pioneer Initiative just a week before departing. In fact, the Shapiro interview was one of the primary reasons for the quick departure after announcing the initiative. Now exhausted but energized by the trip's success, Roets expressed eagerness to return to South Africa and focus on the nuts and bolts of structuring the Pioneer Initiative with those who had signed up as contributors and supporters. He committed to engaging with supporters in the coming weeks to finalize the organization's structure and plans for the future.
