Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read
14 May 2025 | 14:57 CAT

Afrikaner families arrive in the U.S. under the new refugee resettlement policy, a moment captured on TikTok that has stirred widespread debate back home.

A recent move by the US government to consider refugee resettlement for Afrikaners and other “disfavoured minorities” from South Africa has stirred sharp debate about race, privilege, and political messaging.

As per the May 12 bulletin from the US Embassy, and in line with President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14204, three eligibility criteria must be met: applicants must be South African nationals, belong to Afrikaner or other racial minority groups, and be able to articulate persecution—past or feared.

The initiative has raised eyebrows locally and globally. According to Professor Lauren Landau of Wits University, this move “is less about refugee status and more about sending a message—to South Africa, to the world, and most critically, to the US electorate.” She warns that this reflects a broader narrative of “protecting white privilege” under the guise of humanitarian concern.

Reports confirmed that the first group of 49 Afrikaners departed South Africa on Sunday under this program, with more expected to follow. Yet reactions remain mixed, even within the Afrikaner community. While some embrace the opportunity, others warn it could “create further marginalisation” and reject the refugee label altogether.

“Many Afrikaners still see themselves as African,” Landau told Radio Islam International. “They are part of the country’s history, and most don’t want to leave.” Indeed, civil rights groups like Solidarity and AfriForum have publicly denounced the resettlement initiative, insisting that, “we are not refugees. We are South Africans and want to fight for justice here.”

Landau also dismissed the likelihood of indigenous groups like the Khoisan benefiting from the policy. “Trump’s administration is not concerned with the Khoisan or African migrants facing xenophobia. This policy is selective and symbolic.”

As the policy rolls out, it deepens ongoing questions about race, belonging, and power in South Africa—and how those questions are manipulated on the global stage.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Professor Lauren Landau here.