COMING TO AMERICA

SOME 54 Afrikaners will be welcomed to America this week, on the back of President Donald Trump’s executive order inviting them as refugees. 

Trump suspended the US refugee settlement programme in January, on his first day in office, leaving more than 100 000 people approved for resettlement stranded, having fled war and persecution in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan.

However, in a controversial move in February, Trump signed an executive order directing his government to grant refugee status to Afrikaners who he claimed were discriminated against.

In a report in the New York Times in March, the Trump administration was establishing a program called “Mission South Africa” to help white Afrikaners from South Africa to go to the United States.

It has heightened tensions between Trump and SA president Cyril Ramaphosa, with Trump calling out Mzansi’s G20 presidency and role to stop the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.

South Africa's ministry of International Relations and Cooperation says the resettlement of South Africans in the United States under the guise of being “refugees” is entirely politically motivated and designed to question South Africa’s constitutional democracy.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation confirmed that Deputy Minister Alvin Botes held a cordial discussion with the United States deputy secretary of state, Christopher Landau, on Friday.

In a statement issued by the department, it said the discussion follows engagements via the diplomatic channels where in the government expressed concerns with the information conveyed that the US had commenced processing alleged refugees from South Africa and will begin resettling these citizens in the US.

The release reads: “We reiterate that allegations of discrimination are unfounded. 

“There are sufficient structures available within South Africa to address concerns of discrimination. 

“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.

"It is most regrettable that it appears that the resettlement of South Africans to the United States under the guise of being “refugees” is entirely politically motivated and designed to question South Africa’s constitutional democracy." 

It further stated that whilst South Africa challenges the US’ assessments of alleged refugee status, it will not block citizens who seek to depart the country from doing so, as it also observes their right of freedom of movement and freedom of choice, specifically the right to leave the country.

In response, a US State Department spokesperson said the US Embassy in Pretoria has been conducting interviews and processing "pursuant to President Trump's executive order on addressing egregious actions of the Republic of South Africa".