South Africa has condemned the US as reports suggest Washington may receive white Afrikaners as refugees as early as next week.
A briefing document seen by the BBC’s US partner CBS refers to the possible resettlement as a “priority” of President Donald Trump’s administration, but the White House has yet to confirm publicly.
Government of South Africa Responds to Trump Administration
In a statement released on Friday, South Africa’s foreign ministry labeled the alleged move as “politically motivated” and aimed at discrediting South Africa’s “constitutional democracy”.
Last February, Trump labeled Afrikaners as victims of “racial discrimination” in an executive order, leaving the door open for them to resettle in the US.
Concerns Over Vetting and Alleged Discrimination
The South African government said it would not block the selectees from leaving for resettlement, but it asked the US to confirm that it had thoroughly screened the individuals and that they did not face any outstanding criminal charges.
The statement also claimed that accusations of discrimination against the nation’s white minority lacked foundation, and crime records did not show that any racial group was being specifically targeted in violent farm crimes.
Debate Over White Farmer Rights and US Policy
Certain organizations espousing the rights of white farmers have claimed they are being intentionally killed based on race.
A US state department spokesman told the BBC they were interviewing those interested in resettlement in the US and giving preference to “Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unfair racial discrimination”. They did not state when the resettlement would commence.
Land Seizure Allegations Against South Africa
The Trump administration has also accused South Africa of expropriating land from white farmers without compensation, a charge Pretoria has consistently rejected.
Elon Musk, one of the key advisers to the Trump administration and who spent his youth in South Africa under apartheid, has been one of the strongest critics of Pretoria, accusing it of perpetrating a “genocide” against white farmers.
US officials have organized a press ceremony on Monday at Virginia’s Dulles airport to receive the group, the documents obtained by CBS reveal. An initial 54 Afrikaners will arrive as part of the first group, US media report.
Controversy Over US Asylum Policy Shift
The decision to accept South Africans as refugees comes as the Trump administration has halted nearly all migrant asylum claims.
In February, South Africa condemned Trump’s executive order making the US available for the resettlement of white Afrikaners, stating in a statement that “it is ironic” the US is welcoming to accept a group “that remains amongst the most economically privileged” while refusing vulnerable individuals from elsewhere in the world asylum.
