Close to 70,000 South Africans have registered their interest in relocating to the United States following Washington’s offer to resettle members of the country’s Afrikaner community. The South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA (Saccusa) reported a surge in inquiries after President Donald Trump signed an executive order allowing Afrikaners descendants of mainly Dutch settlers to be admitted as refugees, citing “unjust racial discrimination.”
Saccusa confirmed that its website had received 67,042 registrations, with most applicants having Afrikaner or English names. The organization, which primarily represents South African businesspeople in the US, handed over the list of interested individuals to the US embassy in Pretoria. A spokesperson for the embassy confirmed receipt of the data.
The interest in resettlement comes amid strained relations between South Africa and the US. In January, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law a bill allowing land expropriation without compensation, stating it was necessary to ensure “equitable and just” land redistribution. The law, aimed at addressing land inequality stemming from apartheid, has sparked international controversy and divided domestic opinion.
Trump responded to the new policy by extending the refugee offer to all South African farmers, referring to the country as “a bad place to be right now.” In retaliation, the US cut aid to South Africa and later expelled its ambassador from Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the decision, labeling the ambassador a “race-baiting politician.”
Some white South Africans claim they face racial discrimination, a narrative that has gained traction among right-wing groups in the US. However, critics argue that South Africa’s white minority continues to control a disproportionate share of the nation’s land and wealth more than three decades after apartheid ended.
While Saccusa clarified that it is not a government agency, it became involved in the asylum process after receiving numerous inquiries. Most of those seeking resettlement are between the ages of 25 and 45, with two to three dependents.
As tensions between the two nations escalate, the situation raises questions about land reform, racial equity, and international asylum policies.
