Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
11 February 2025 | 14:00 CAT
3-minute read

The Orania Movement has welcomed American President Donald Trump’s asylum offer to Afrikaners. The organisation has expressed appreciation for his acknowledgment of the minority group after the leader of the United States extended an offer for Afrikaners to take up residence in the States as refugees. However, they indicated that they have no intention of leaving and that they will remain in Mzansi.

Joost Strydom, CEO of Orania Beweging, has interpreted President Trump’s recognition of the minority ethnic group as a long-overdue acknowledgment of the community’s distinct identity.

“I think many Afrikaners feel that the recognition that we’ve just got—just by acknowledging that we are a minority people; that we are a people here in Africa—is something for us and something that we appreciate,” Mr Strydom said.

Trump’s offer has been viewed within the broader context of global politics, with analysts suggesting it may not be as selfless an act of broad empathy toward South Africa or the African continent as it first appears.

“In the case of global politics and geopolitics, there’s always a sense of own interest that comes into play,” he said, adding “the relationship between the ANC government and the Trump administration or the US government, I think those may be all contributing factors.”

Orania, a town in the Karoo region, was founded in 1963 to preserve Afrikaner culture. The

Strydom detailed a litany of domestic issues that have spurred the community’s defensive stance. Citing recent legislative measures—including the Expropriation Act and changes that affect cultural and educational rights, such as aspects of the BELA Act—he argued that a combination of policies has left the Afrikaner community feeling vulnerable.

“If you look at them in isolation, they can be something that one can say, well, [Trump is exaggerating]. But if you look at them as a combined reality—the BELA Act, the Expropriation Act, some of the comments that we see in mainstream politics—that becomes really concerning,” Strydom said.

When pressed on criticisms suggesting that Trump’s offer could be a step toward re-establishing white supremacy, Stydom rejected the notion. “I do not think President Trump is a white supremacist,” he said, adding the debate was another matter and emphasised that it was not his place to speak on the President’s behalf.

Strydom explained that the movement’s aim is to preserve Afrikaans culture and secure their rights and not to elevate themselves above others. He emphasised that Orania focuses on creating a space for their community through self-reliance—by funding their own schools, basic services, and community projects—rather than depending on any foreign intervention.

Addressing calls from other groups, such as AfriForum, which have sought international support to counter recent governmental policies, Strydom maintained that external help is not a sustainable solution.

“I don’t’ think anyone can come save the Afrikaners. I don’t think anyone can come save South Africa or any minority group in South Africa. Whar needs to happen is that it needs to be built,” Strydom said, stating that the future of Afrikaners depends on their ability to build stable relationships and to take responsibility for their own progress.

According to Strydom, the decision to remain in South Africa is a commitment to long-term stability and constructive engagement rather than a temporary measure.

Listen to the full interview on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat