South Africa Condemns U.S. Refugee Policy for Afrikaners

The South African government has issued a sharp rebuke to the United States’ decision to grant refugee status to Afrikaners, a white ethnic minority, under a controversial policy initiated by President Donald Trump.

The policy, which fast-tracks asylum for Afrikaners citing alleged racial discrimination, has sparked outrage in South Africa, with officials dismissing claims of persecution as baseless and accusing the U.S. of undermining the country’s post-apartheid progress.

On May 12, 59 Afrikaners arrived in the U.S. after Trump’s February executive order prioritized their resettlement, halting admissions for other refugee groups from conflict zones like Sudan and Afghanistan.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called the move “misinformed” and a “slap in the face” to the nation’s constitutional commitment to non-racialism.

“These individuals are not fleeing persecution,” Ramaphosa stated during a tense White House meeting with Trump on May 21.

“They are fleeing the accountability of a democratic society addressing historical inequities.”

He further labeled those leaving as “cowards” unwilling to embrace South Africa’s transformative policies, such as the Expropriation Act of 2024, which allows land redistribution but has seen limited use.

The South African Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation echoed Ramaphosa’s sentiments, arguing that Afrikaners, who constitute about 7% of the population but own over 70% of private farmland, remain among the most economically privileged groups.

A government statement emphasized that crime, including farm attacks, affects all racial groups, with police data showing only 44 farm-related murders in 2024, a fraction of the country’s 20,000 annual homicides.

“There is no evidence of genocide or systemic racial targeting,” said spokesperson Chrispin Phiri, refuting Trump’s claims amplified by advisor Elon Musk.

Prominent Afrikaner groups, including AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement, have distanced themselves from the U.S. policy.

AfriForum’s CEO, Kallie Kriel, stated, “We are committed to building a future here, not fleeing to the U.S. under false pretenses.”

The groups criticized the African National Congress’s race-based policies but rejected the notion of widespread persecution, noting that most Afrikaners intend to stay and contribute to South Africa.

The policy has strained U.S.-South Africa relations, already tense after Trump cut $8 billion in aid and expelled South Africa’s ambassador for criticizing the policy as a “supremacist insurgency.”

South Africa’s charge at the International Court of Justice against Israel for alleged genocide has also been cited as a factor in Trump’s decision, seen as retaliation for Pretoria’s stance.

Critics, including U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, have accused the administration of creating a “global apartheid” by prioritizing Afrikaners while barring other refugees.

South African officials have expressed concern that the policy misrepresents the country’s efforts to address apartheid’s legacy, potentially emboldening far-right narratives.

“This is not about humanitarian need but political posturing,” said Supra Mahumapelo, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations.

As thousands more Afrikaners reportedly inquire about U.S. asylum, South Africa insists it will not obstruct their departure but maintains they do not qualify as refugees under international law.

The controversy underscores broader tensions over race, privilege, and international perceptions of South Africa’s democratic project, with the government urging the U.S. to reconsider its approach to avoid further diplomatic fallout.