South Africa Condemns U.S. Plan to Admit White Afr...

South Africa Condemns U.S. Plan to Admit White Afrikaner Refugees

Zim Now Writer

South Africa’s government has strongly criticized a move by the Trump administration to begin admitting white South African refugees—specifically Afrikaners—into the United States, calling the policy “factually inaccurate” and “a distortion of South Africa’s realities.”

“The executive order lacks factual accuracy and misrepresents the realities in South Africa,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, rejecting the U.S. claim that white South Africans are systematically persecuted. The order, signed on February 7 by President Trump, grants priority refugee status to Afrikaners, framing them as victims of racial discrimination.

The South African government described the designation as a misreading of the country’s complex post-apartheid social and economic dynamics. Officials warned that such a move risks undermining the progress South Africa has made toward reconciliation and nation-building since the end of apartheid in 1994.

“This decision by the United States sends a troubling message and risks deepening racial narratives that we have long worked to heal,” the statement added.

According to reports, the first group of refugees is expected to arrive at Dulles International Airport as early as next week. Over 8,000 Afrikaners have reportedly expressed interest in the programme, which comes as the Trump administration simultaneously suspends refugee admissions from countries experiencing conflict and humanitarian crises.

South Africa expressed concern that the U.S. is prioritizing white applicants while blocking asylum seekers from regions such as the Middle East and Central Africa, where the need for protection is far more urgent.

“The selective nature of this policy raises serious questions about its intent and underlying values,” a senior government official said, urging international institutions to ensure refugee policies remain inclusive, non-discriminatory, and rooted in genuine humanitarian need.

The South African government said it remains open to dialogue with U.S. counterparts but will continue to challenge any narratives or actions that undermine its sovereignty or misrepresent its national reality.