SA criticises US receiving Afrikaners

South Africa's ministry of International Relations and Cooperation says the resettlement of South Africans in the United States under the guise of being “refugees” is entirely politically motivated and designed to question South Africa’s constitutional democracy.

It has been reported that officials from the Departments of State and Homeland Security in the US will be welcoming from Monday the arrival of 54 white Afrikaners in Washington DC. They have been granted refugee status.

US President Donald Trump suspended the US refugee settlement programme in January, on his first day in office, leaving more than 100 000 people approved for resettlement stranded, having fled war and persecution in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan.

However, in February, Trump signed an executive order directing his government to grant refugee status to Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch and French colonisers who he claimed were discriminated against.

In a report in the New York Times in March, the Trump administration was establishing a program called “Mission South Africa” to help white Afrikaners from South Africa to go to the United States.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation confirmed that Deputy Minister Alvin Botes held a cordial discussion with the United States deputy secretary of state, Christopher Landau, on Friday.

In a statement issued by the department, it said the discussion follows engagements via the diplomatic channels where in the government expressed concerns with the information conveyed that the US had commenced processing alleged refugees from South Africa and will begin resettling these citizens in the US.

"We reiterate that allegations of discrimination are unfounded. The South African Police Service statistics on farm-related crimes do not support allegations of violent crime targeted at farmers generally or any particular race. There are sufficient structures available within South Africa to address concerns of discrimination. Moreover, even if there are allegations of discrimination, it is our view that these do not meet the threshold of persecution required under domestic and international refugee law.

"It is most regrettable that it appears that the resettlement of South Africans to the United States under the guise of being “refugees” is entirely politically motivated and designed to question South Africa’s constitutional democracy," said the statement.

It further stated that whilst South Africa challenges the US’ assessments of alleged refugee status, it will not block citizens who seek to depart the country from doing so, as it also observes their right of freedom of movement and freedom of choice, specifically the right to leave the country.

Through the diplomatic channels, the foreign ministry has sought the status of persons that will be departing, whether as asylum seekers, refugees or ordinary citizens; and assurances as to whether the persons have been appropriately vetted by competent South African authorities to ensure that they do not have any outstanding criminal cases pending against them, amongst others.

In response to questions from the Sunday Tribune, a US State Department spokesperson said the US Embassy in Pretoria has been conducting interviews and processing "pursuant to President Trump's executive order on addressing egregious actions of the Republic of South Africa".

"We continue to review inquiries from individuals who have expressed interest to the Embassy in resettling to the United States.

"While we are unable to comment on individual cases, the Department of State is prioritising consideration for US refugee resettlement of Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination," said the spokesperson.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE