Thousands of white South Africans, primarily Afrikaners aged between 25 and 45, are seeking to relocate to the United States following a new executive order issued by President Donald Trump.
The order grants eligibility for refugee status to individuals who claim racial discrimination in South Africa, a move that comes amid growing tensions over the country’s controversial land reform policies, according to Africanews
The reforms include provisions for the expropriation of land without compensation — a measure critics argue disproportionately affects white landowners.
According to Neil Diamond, head of the South African Chamber of Commerce in the U.S., more than 67,000 South Africans have already registered interest in applying for refugee status through the chamber’s platform.
Diamond described the response as an “unprecedented wave of applications” from South Africans fearing marginalisation.
The U.S. embassy in Pretoria has acknowledged a notable increase in inquiries following the announcement.
However, embassy officials emphasised that all applicants must adhere to official procedures for asylum or refugee status and that registration of interest does not guarantee acceptance into the U.S.
The situation highlights mounting anxieties within South Africa’s white minority community, particularly among Afrikaners, who view the land reforms as a potential threat to their security and livelihoods.
The South African government, meanwhile, has defended its land expropriation policy as necessary to address historical injustices and economic disparities rooted in apartheid-era land ownership patterns.
