Charlie Kirk honored in South African town of Orania

The South African white-only town of Orania has lowered its flag to half-staff to honor Charlie Kirk, citing his efforts to raise awareness about the oppression of the Afrikaners in the country.

Orania is a small town in South Africa open only to white residents. It is the only such settlement in the country and has attracted attention as a focal point for anti-white sentiment among the country's black majority. Oranian leader Joost Strydom confirmed that the town's citizens had spontaneously requested the honor, which they normally reserve for the passing of an Oranian citizen.

"The community of Orania shows respect for Charlie Kirk and empathy for our American friends after receiving the tragic news of his passing last night," he said in an Instagram post. "A spontaneous request came from the citizens of Orania, and that request was that the leadership of the town council showed our communal respect to commemorate the life and the impact of Charlie and the plight of Christians worldwide."

"The leadership, the board that this suggestion from the community was very fitting and they thought not only because of Charlie's conservative ideas resonated with so many Afrikaners around South Africa, but also because the public awareness that Charlie raised for Afrikaners and the challenges in South Africa," he added.

Kirk was one of several conservative influencers that highlighted the discrimination against white South Africans in recent years. The issue came to the forefront of American politics after Elon Musk spoke out against a land seizure proposal in the country, leading President Donald Trump to admit refugees into the U.S.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.