SA protests to US over first resettlement of white Afrikaners

South Africa has formally raised concerns with the United States following reports that the U.S. government is preparing to resettle a group of white Afrikaners from South Africa under refugee status. The country’s foreign ministry released a statement on Friday, saying it had conveyed its objections to Washington after learning of the development through media reports.

According to several U.S. media outlets, the Biden administration, following precedents set during Donald Trump’s presidency, is preparing to accept the first group of white South African refugees—primarily Afrikaners—as early as Monday. The move has reignited a sensitive political debate over race, migration, and international asylum policies, particularly given the historical context of South Africa’s apartheid past and its continuing struggles with racial inequality.

SA Protests U.S. Plans to Resettle White Afrikaners as Refugees

The South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) issued a firm statement rejecting claims of racial persecution against white citizens, calling such allegations “unfounded” and inconsistent with both South Africa’s legal system and its constitutional values.

“We reiterate that allegations of discrimination are unfounded,” the foreign ministry said. “Moreover, even if there are allegations of discrimination, it is our view that these do not meet the threshold of persecution required under domestic and international refugee law.”

The ministry emphasized that South Africa remains a constitutional democracy with strong institutions in place to protect the rights of all citizens, regardless of race, gender, or religion. It also noted that granting refugee status in such cases could undermine international refugee frameworks that are intended to protect individuals facing real and imminent threats to their lives.

DIRCO also confirmed that Deputy Foreign Minister Alvin Botes personally raised the issue in a discussion with his U.S. counterpart, Ambassador Christopher Landau. According to officials, the South African government sought clarity on the legal basis and justification for granting refugee status to citizens of a democratic country where institutionalized persecution does not exist.

This controversy stems from a broader narrative that has circulated internationally in recent years, particularly among right-wing commentators and political figures, claiming that white South African farmers and Afrikaners are under threat of racial violence and discrimination. Former President Donald Trump amplified this narrative during his term, tweeting in 2018 that he had directed then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to “closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers.”

However, numerous investigations and reports by independent organizations, including South African watchdog groups, have disputed these claims. While farm attacks and rural crime are a real and pressing issue in South Africa, they affect individuals of all races, and no reliable data supports the claim that white farmers are specifically targeted for racial reasons.

Critics of the U.S. decision argue that granting refugee status to white South Africans on this basis sets a dangerous precedent and politicizes the asylum process. They warn it could delegitimize the broader system that is meant to protect genuinely vulnerable populations fleeing war, ethnic cleansing, or authoritarian repression.

In contrast, advocates for the resettlement program insist that there is a case to be made for offering refuge to white South Africans who feel marginalized, threatened, or economically displaced in post-apartheid South Africa. They cite land reform debates, crime, and what they claim are race-based affirmative action policies as factors contributing to an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among some Afrikaner communities.

Despite these perspectives, the South African government maintains that such views misrepresent the complex realities of the country’s social and political landscape. “South Africa is a nation committed to building a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, and prosperous society. Our Constitution and legal systems are among the most progressive in the world, guaranteeing protection for all citizens,” the foreign ministry’s statement read.

As of now, the United States has not publicly confirmed the details or timing of the planned resettlement, nor has it responded officially to South Africa’s concerns. However, the diplomatic exchange is likely to add tension to U.S.-South Africa relations and may draw international scrutiny on how refugee and asylum status is applied in cases involving citizens of democratic nations.

Whether the planned resettlement proceeds or is re-evaluated in light of Pretoria’s objections remains to be seen. For now, South Africa is standing firm in defending its legal and political framework, while cautioning against what it views as a misinterpretation of its domestic affairs.