BlogHear.com | News | May 15, 2025
A group of 59 white South Africans, identifying as Afrikaners, recently arrived in the United States after being granted refugee status, reigniting a global debate over whether the minority group is facing persecution in South Africa.
Their arrival at Dulles International Airport near Washington DC followed an executive order by US President Donald Trump that offers refuge to “Afrikaners fleeing race-based discrimination.” The move has drawn praise from American conservatives and criticism from South African leaders and civil society groups.
Among the critics is South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who called the departure of the group a “cowardly act” and accused them of rejecting the country’s constitutional values. “They are leaving because they don’t want to embrace the changes taking place in our country,” he said during a speech to farmers in the Free State.
Meanwhile, prominent Afrikaner influencer Ulrich Janse van Vuuren, who has over one million social media followers, openly rejected the refugee program. “Promoting South Africa is something I am passionate about – I have no intention of taking up Trump’s offer because South Africa is my home,” he told the BBC.
Mr Janse van Vuuren, 38, posts images showcasing South Africa’s beauty, including Johannesburg’s winter mornings, Pretoria’s jacaranda trees, and Cape Town’s beaches. He described the departing group as “opportunists,” not refugees, stating: “They’ve enjoyed more than their share of South Africa’s resources and privileges. None are fleeing racial persecution.”
However, others tell a different story. A woman identifying herself as Ilse Steenkamp, who applied for resettlement under the Trump plan, claims her family lost their farm after it was invaded and destroyed by land grabbers. She says they were forced to abandon it after it was repossessed by the bank.
“We’ve endured high crime levels, but this attack was the last straw,” she said, calling the experience “emotional abuse.”
Sam Busà, founder of the “Amerikaners” platform and another applicant for refugee status, argued that the program is not exclusive to Afrikaners but targets all white South Africans facing threats. “When someone strips away your hope for the future, that is dramatic. It’s mental anguish,” she said.
Despite such claims, many experts argue that the refugee narrative lacks credible evidence. South African police statistics do not classify crime victims by race. The most recent figures show 6,953 people were murdered nationwide between October and December 2024, with only 12 deaths related to farm attacks.
Political analyst Dr. Piet Croucamp of North West University dismissed the refugee claims, stating, “South Africa does not persecute people.” He added that while some Afrikaners may feel insecure due to crime, they are not victims of systematic government persecution.
Even among right-wing Afrikaner groups such as AfriForum and Solidarity, there is no support for mass emigration. Both organizations reaffirmed their commitment to staying in South Africa, with AfriForum emphasizing efforts to “create a future for Afrikaners at the southern tip of Africa.”
Janse van Vuuren echoed this view, stating: “While some may choose to leave, the majority of us are here to stay, working together to build a better future for all in South Africa.”
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