White Afrikaners Exit South Africa, Seeking Refuge in the USA; Trump Administration Embraces Initial Group as US Scales Back Refugee Programs for Other Nations
Johannestown, Africa - On a nippy Sunday night in Johannesburg, OR Tambo International Airport buzzed with tourists and travelers, landing and taking off from South Africa's bustling airport. Over by the international departures terminal, a group of individuals were huddled together, their trolleys overflowing with luggage, travel pillows, and kids' blankets, as they waited for a charter flight to Washington Dulles International Airport in the United States.
Not your typical travelers, this crowd — predominantly young and white — chatted among themselves while keeping their distance from gawkers. Despite their casual attire and relaxed demeanor, they were anything but average tourists. They were Afrikaners leaving South Africa to become refugees in Donald Trump's America.
When Charl Kleinhaus initially submitted his refugee application in South Africa earlier this year, he informed officials that he had received threats and attempts were made to claim his property. For 46-year-old Kleinhaus, who claimed ownership of a farm in Limpopo Province, no proof was required, and there were no consequences for withholding details about alleged incidents.
And so, on that chilly Sunday, Kleinhaus and dozens of other refugees accepted by the Trump administration as part of a pilot program, left for the US, their dreams of a new life unfolding before them.
The Trump administration contends that white people face discrimination in South Africa — a country where they constitute 7% of the population but own over 70% of the land and dominate the upper echelons of management.
"Welcome to America," US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau greeted thekleinhaus and his companions upon their arrival at the DullesInternational in Virginia. "We understand what you've been through these past years."
Kleinhaus, after sharing his story with a journalist at the airport, expressed his surprise at the land expropriation issue entering South Africa's political landscape. He and the other refugees claimed that they never expected this situation to escalate to such an extent.
It's worth noting that the South African government has stated that the Expropriation Act, which permits the government to seize land for public use without compensation, has not resulted in any actual land grabs. Furthermore, there is no evidence to suggest that Kleinhaus's property had been seized.
South Africa is predominantly populated by Black South Africans, who make up over 80% of the population, yet own only 4% of the land. The recently passed Expropriation Act aims to address these inequalities inherited from the apartheid era.
Sam Busa, a 60-year-old semi-retired businesswoman, witnessed Kleinhaus and the other refugees departing, hopeful for her own future in the US. She's in the process of selling her personal belongings in anticipation of her resettlement. Busa is one of the many Afrikaners actively promoting the US offer of granting refugee status due to perceived racial persecution in South Africa through her website, Amerikaners.
Busa recalled an incident where she was held at gunpoint in her Johannesburg home, which she believes was racially motivated. Following this, she relocated to KwaZulu-Natal on South Africa's east coast, where she operated a business providing services to the government.
Although many experts have disputed claims that the Afrikaner community are victims of racially motivated attacks, Busa remains unconvinced. When questioned about the true nature of the threats she faced, Busa considered it irrelevant. She recorded an incident where she felt unprotected, and that was enough for her to consider leaving South Africa.
Busa finds particular issue with the new legislation geared towards bolstering racial transformation, including specific hiring targets and the Expropriation Act, which she believes severely threatens the livelihoods of white South Africans.
The narrative of fear is pervasive among those engaging in the refugee program, despite the fact that numerous experts have rendered the assertions of embattled racism unfounded.
South Africa experiences approximately 19,000 murders a year, with evidence suggesting that white farmers are not disproportionately targeted. It's interesting to note that many participants in the US's Afrikaner refugee resettlement program do not reside on farms, as one might initially assume, but rather dwell in urban areas.
Katia Beedan, who lives in Cape Town, is among those awaiting resettlement in the US. She shared her reasons for wanting to leave South Africa, citing racial and political persecution as key factors. Beedan pointed to the legislation enacted to support racial transformation, including the Expropriation Act and affirmative action policies, as the primary reasons for her desire to emigrate.
The views expressed by Afrikaners such as Busa and Beedan are not universally held. Many South Africans see the Afrikaner community, including their right-wing lobby groups like AfriForum, as struggling to adapt to a new reality in a country that no longer views them as superior due to their race.
Thuli Madonsela, South Africa's former public protector, explained that the new South Africa requires all citizens to exist as equals, whereas colonialism and apartheid made white people feel special. Some white South Africans, Madonsela added, have become frustrated by this shift and are seeking excuses to reclaim their superior status.
The narrative of victimhood has been particularly fetishized among the Afrikaner community, despite the fact that their struggles are not exclusive to them. Crime rates in South Africa are disturbingly high, affecting people of all races. To Busha, the lens through which she views these challenges is unimportant.
"I'm not overly sensitive. When I watch Julius Malema singing about killing Boers, it's incredibly terrifying," she shared. Malema, the far-left leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters political party, has occasionally performed an anti-apartheid song, "Kill the Boer," which has been ruled by the courts as neither hate speech nor incitement to violence.
Conversely, the EFF has criticized those who leave South Africa as betrayers who should have their citizenship revoked. Addressing this issue, the South African government is considering the possibility of those who exit as refugees being able to easily return to the country. President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to discuss the matter with Trump during an upcoming meeting in the United States.
As for the Afrikaners who have made their new home in the United States, many will settle in Texas, with others in New York, Idaho, Iowa, and North Carolina. The US government is working to help them find employment and housing. The Afrikaner resettlement program remains open to those who wish to apply.
When Kleinhaus and his companions arrived in the US on Monday, they were greeted with smiles as they met officials and waved American flags. South Africa's president viewed their departure as "a sad moment" and believed they would eventually return to their homeland. "As South Africans, we are resilient. We don't run away from our problems," he declared.
In the end, the future of the Afrikaner community lies in the hands of those who choose to embrace change, adapt to new circumstances, or seek refuge abroad. Their journey continues, shaped by the challenges they've faced and the hopes they carry for a better tomorrow.
- The group of Afrikaners leaving South Africa for the United States included individuals who had received threats and experienced attempts to claim their property, citing discrimination in politics and general news.
- In the US, the Trump administration's contention was that white people face discrimination in South Africa, a country where they own over 70% of the land and dominate the upper echelons of management.
- Businesswoman Sam Busa, one of many Afrikaners seeking resettlement in the US, expressed her concerns about the racial persecution she faced in South Africa, mentioning incidents like being held at gunpoint and her opposition to the Expropriation Act and affirmative action policies.
- Despite the contention that the Expropriation Act has not resulted in any actual land grabs, the high crime rate and political tensions in South Africa have led some, like Busa, to view the US as a safer haven, even with the uncertainty of returning.
