International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola has dismissed claims that white Afrikaners are being persecuted in South Africa and qualify as refugees. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, 12 May 2025, he stated that there is no evidence to support these allegations and that crime in the country affects all citizens equally, regardless of race or gender.
Afrikaner Group Departs for the United States
A chartered flight carrying 49 Afrikaners departed OR Tambo International Airport on the night of Sunday, 11 May. According to a Reuters report, the group had been granted refugee status by the United States and was scheduled to land at Washington Dulles International Airport before continuing to Texas.
This development follows a report by The New York Times, which revealed that the Trump administration planned to welcome the first group of white South Africans it had designated as refugees. The administration was also expected to host a formal event at Dulles Airport to mark their arrival.
Trump’s Executive Order and South Africa’s Response
Earlier this year, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing his administration to prioritise the resettlement of Afrikaners allegedly fleeing government-sponsored racial discrimination.
The order, titled “Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa“, accused the South African government of confiscating Afrikaner agricultural land without compensation under the Expropriation Act. The South African government has consistently denied these accusations.
In response, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) released a statement on Friday rejecting the claims as unfounded. The department also raised concerns about the application of the principle of non-refoulement and questioned the legal basis of granting refugee status to Afrikaners.
Crime Statistics and Government Position
Minister Lamola reiterated that official statistics from the South African Police Service do not support the claim that white South Africans face targeted persecution. He explained that crime in the country is widespread and affects all demographics. He also noted that the government views gender-based violence as one of its most urgent challenges.
Possibility of Return and Vetting Process
When asked whether the departing Afrikaners would be allowed to return to South Africa in the future, Lamola said the matter was still under consideration. He explained that both Dirco and the Department of Home Affairs would be involved in evaluating the issue. He acknowledged that South Africans are free to emigrate but emphasised that the government would review the situation as needed.
Dirco has requested clarification from US authorities regarding the status of those departing and whether they were classified as asylum seekers, refugees, or ordinary citizens. The department also asked for confirmation that all individuals had been properly vetted and did not have outstanding criminal cases.
Lamola confirmed that the South African Police Service had been involved in checking the criminal records of those who left the country and that all necessary procedures had been followed.
US Implementation of Refugee Programme
Following Trump’s executive order, a programme known as “Mission South Africa” was established to identify potential candidates for refugee status. According to The New York Times, US teams deployed to Pretoria reviewed over 8,000 applications and identified around 100 Afrikaners for possible resettlement.
When asked how the US had responded to South Africa’s insistence that no persecution exists, Lamola said American officials pointed to the executive order, which they are required to implement.
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