49 Afrikaners who Fled to US Expected to Arrive this Morning

A group of 49 South African Afrikaners are expected to arrive in the United States of America (USA) this morning. This follows their departure on Sunday, 11 May 2025, to the United States of America after the Trump administration had offered them refugee status. The group consists of families with their young children.

On 07 February 2025, American President Donald Trump announced a new programme to offer white South Africans refugee status, accusing the South African government of racial discrimination against whites. According to Collen Msibi, spokesperson for the Department of Transport, the 49 Afrikaners are currently the only group that has applied to depart South Africa.

This follows a delegation of Afrikaner interest groups, Solidarity and AfriForum’s visit to the U.S., where they met with the representatives of Trump’s administration. Their mission was to voice their frustration with the new policy of the Land Expropriation Act, and they accused South Africa of white genocide, particularly against white farmers. The South African government disputed AfriForum’s allegations, stating that they constitute misinformation.

According to Sunday World, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni confirmed that AfriForum acknowledged making false claims about the farm murder. Nonetheless, the Trump administration has criticised the South African government and cut U.S. funds to South Africa, citing, among other things, that the country is against American foreign policy. This after South Africa has lodged a complaint against Israel, a key ally of the United States, accusing it of genocide in connection with the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Trump’s refugee offers to white South Africans come after his administration had cancelled travel plans for refugees already approved for resettlement in the U.S on January 27, 2025. The Trump administration declined refugee offers for countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and most sub-Saharan African nations.