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A wave of interest in relocating to the United States has emerged among white South Africans following an offer from Washington to grant refugee status to Afrikaners. The South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA (SACCUSA) Thursday, March 20, 2025, reported a surge in online registrations, with nearly 70,000 individuals seeking information about potential resettlement.
The development comes against a backdrop of heightened political tensions between the U.S. and South Africa, driven in part by the South African government’s recent land reform policies and Washington’s controversial response.
In February, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order asserting that Afrikaners, descendants of mainly Dutch settlers, were facing state-backed racial discrimination and could therefore seek refuge in the U.S. The directive, which has ignited both support and criticism, presents a rare case of white South Africans being categorized as refugees.
SACCUSA, a U.S.-based organization representing South African business interests, found itself at the center of the issue after thousands of inquiries flooded its platform. According to its president, Neil Diamond, the individuals who expressed interest were mostly aged between 25 and 45, many with young families.
Although the organization does not have official government authority, it compiled a list of the 67,042 registrants and forwarded it to the U.S. embassy in Pretoria. An embassy official later confirmed receipt of the document, though no formal resettlement process has been publicly announced.
This mass expression of interest in migration is unfolding against the backdrop of a deepening diplomatic rift between South Africa and the U.S. Relations have grown increasingly strained since Trump took office, but tensions escalated significantly in January when South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law a controversial bill enabling land expropriation without compensation.
The new law aims to redress historical injustices by redistributing farmland from the white minority to Black South Africans. Supporters of the policy argue that it is a necessary correction to decades of economic exclusion under apartheid. However, opponents, including some white farmers, see it as an attack on property rights, fueling fears of economic instability and potential land seizures.
Trump has been vocal in his opposition to South Africa’s land policies. Following the passage of the law, he announced the U.S. would cut aid to South Africa and later expanded the resettlement offer to include all white farmers, declaring that South Africa had become “a bad place to be right now.”
Among those interested in relocating to the U.S., some white South Africans claim they are facing economic and political marginalization. While the South African government insists its policies promote fairness and inclusivity, right-wing groups in the U.S. and abroad have amplified concerns about alleged discrimination against white citizens, particularly farmers.
However, the broader economic reality tells a different story. More than 30 years after the end of apartheid, South Africa remains one of the most unequal societies in the world. Despite being a demographic minority, white South Africans still hold the majority of private land and wealth. Meanwhile, high unemployment and economic hardship continue to disproportionately affect the Black majority.
Meanwhile, President Ramaphosa has dismissed claims that white South Africans face persecution, stating that land reforms are guided by constitutional principles and aim to ensure equitable access to resources. His administration has accused Washington of meddling in domestic affairs and misrepresenting the reality of the country’s policies.
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