The first group of white people who have left South Africa to become refugees in the United States is expected to arrive in Washington, D.C. today.
The 49 Afrikaners, who included men, women, and children, departed from OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday, (11 May 2025) for the U.S. via Dakar, Senegal.
The move came after reports said the U.S. government has officially granted 54 Afrikaner South Africans, white descendants of mainly Dutch colonisers, refugee status.
While checking in ahead of their departure, the “refugees” who are allegedly victims of discrimination by the SA government declined interviews.
Although the South African government has dismissed the claims as blatantly false, the U.S., which is on a highly publicised drive to remove people suspected of being in that country illegally, has offered whites from South Africa refugee status.
The Guardian quoted a U.S. State Department spokesperson as saying: “The US embassy in Pretoria has been conducting interviews and processing… While we are unable to comment on individual cases, the Department of State is prioritising consideration for U.S. refugee resettlement of Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination.”
A charter flight arranged by U.S. officials picked up the 49 “refugees” Sunday night and departed without much fanfare.
The South African government, which earlier expressed concerns about the move, has since said those who wish to leave the southern African country are free to go.
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