On 12 May 2025, 49 white South African citizens, identified as Afrikaners, arrived in the United States with refugee status. Their arrival followed a call from President Donald Trump, who, since the start of his second term, has accused South Africa of seizing white-owned land without compensation, promoting racial discrimination, and even committing genocide.
These allegations—amplified by figures such as Elon Musk, AfriForum, Solidarity, and other ultranationalist groups—are not based on facts. They are the result of a deliberate disinformation campaign, designed to spread fear and reinforce conservative political and economic narratives in the United States.
Yes, South Africa has a complex and painful history. But it is also a functioning democracy that has made enormous strides in promoting tolerance and coexistence. A clear example of this is Orania – a self-governing, exclusively Afrikaner community that operates peacefully within the South African constitutional framework. In fact, Orania’s leadership has recently asked President Trump for support in becoming independent. If Orania can exist and negotiate autonomously, how can one justify Afrikaners fleeing the country as if they were being persecuted?
Trump’s move may serve other purposes:
- Appeasing his conservative base
- Applying economic pressure on South Africa
- Fueling the same fake news engine that helped re-elect him
But let’s be clear:
There is no white genocide in South Africa.
There is no state-led campaign against minorities.
There are challenges, yes – but there is also freedom, diversity and peace.
To the 49 individuals who have arrived in the US – may they find what they seek.
But the international community must not accept lies as a basis for migration policy.
Egidio Vaz | Comms Strategist 