First group of white South Africans leaves for US as refugees
49 white South Africans departed from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport on a Sunday evening flight.
A group of 49 white South Africans became the first to receive refugee status under a controversial programme backed by US President Donald Trump, boarding a flight from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday evening.
Most of the passengers, primarily Afrikaners, queued at passport control with theft-proof plastic-wrapped luggage before heading to the departure lounge.
Their destination: Dulles International Airport near Washington, DC, with onward travel to Texas.
According to South Africa’s Department of Transport spokesperson, Collen Msibi, all passengers were vetted prior to departure to ensure none had pending criminal charges.
“One of the conditions of the permit was to ensure they were vetted in case one of them has a criminal issue pending,” Msibi confirmed.
Media access to the group was restricted.
Racial discrimination
The initiative, spearheaded by Trump despite a broader freeze on global refugee admissions, prioritises white South Africans – particularly Afrikaners – as alleged victims of racial discrimination.
The move has stirred controversy in both South Africa and the United States.
Critics argue that the policy plays into white nationalist narratives and distorts the reality of post-apartheid South Africa, where whites, especially Afrikaners, continue to enjoy disproportionate economic privilege.
Although comprising less than 10% of the population, white South Africans reportedly still control around 75% of private land and maintain a vast wealth gap compared to the black majority.
The South African government has dismissed the refugee claims as politically motivated and misleading.
“It is most regrettable that it appears the resettlement of South Africans under the guise of being ‘refugees’ is entirely politically motivated and designed to question South Africa’s constitutional democracy,” said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in an earlier statement.
Drawn criticism
Trump’s decision has also drawn criticism in the US, where his administration blocked most refugee admissions from non-white regions.
The contrast has led observers to question the racial and political motivations behind this exception.
The group’s arrival in the US is expected to include a press event, followed by their resettlement in various states – including conservative regions like Idaho and Alabama, as well as refugee-friendly areas such as Minnesota.
The long-term implications of this unprecedented resettlement move remain unclear, both in terms of international policy and domestic political messaging.