A chartered flight carrying 49 white South Africans arrived in Washington this week under a controversial refugee policy championed by Donald Trump, reigniting tensions between the United States and South Africa.
The group, all Afrikaners, departed Johannesburg on Sunday with the support of a newly established programme offering asylum to individuals who claim to be victims of racial discrimination.
The move marks a stark departure from the US’s broader approach to asylum, which has become more restrictive under Trump’s leadership.
Outrage in South Africa
The policy has provoked outrage in South Africa, where senior government officials have dismissed the claims of persecution. President Cyril Ramaphosa criticised the departures, stating that those leaving the country were not fleeing violence or state oppression, but rather choosing to avoid embracing the post-apartheid social and political order.
“They are not being treated badly,” he said, adding that the government had not targeted any group for persecution.
Afrikaners make up 5% of RSA’s population
While the Afrikaner minority – descendants of Dutch settlers – make up around 5% of the South African population. They continue to hold disproportionate levels of wealth, land and economic power. They were also the dominant group during the apartheid regime, which enforced white minority rule until 1994.
Despite this, Trump has framed the group’s departure as a humanitarian issue, claiming that white farmers in South Africa face targeted violence and land seizures. At a press briefing, he described the situation as a “genocide” and alleged that farms are being confiscated without compensation.
South African officials countered that violent crime affects all demographics and denied any ethnically motivated campaign against white landowners. Data from agricultural unions show that farm-related murders have decreased significantly in recent years and affect both white and Black farmers. However some campaign groups say that crime against white landowners is going unreported.
Diplomatic strain between Washington and Pretoria
South Africa’s foreign minister, Ronald Lamola, described the claims as disinformation and questioned the legitimacy of granting refugee status to individuals not fleeing verified persecution. “They can’t provide any proof, because there is none,” he said.
The controversy has added to the diplomatic strain between Washington and Pretoria. The United States has criticised South Africa’s foreign policy positions, including its opposition to certain Western allies at international forums. In response, the South African government has reiterated its commitment to multiracial democracy and equal rights for all citizens.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that temporary housing has been prepared in Pretoria for more prospective applicants under the scheme. Trump has indicated his intention to meet South African leaders to discuss the programme, even as tensions continue to escalate in the run-up to November’s G20 summit, which is scheduled to be hosted in South Africa.
