Trump’s Plan to Rehouse White South Africans Sparks Debate Among Afrikaners

U.S. President Donald Trump’s offer to resettle white South Africans as refugees has been widely rejected, including by Afrikaner organizations. While Trump cites racial discrimination and land reforms, most Afrikaners insist they are staying in South Africa.

Trump signed an executive order cutting U.S. aid to South Africa, citing concerns over land expropriation policies introduced by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The order also opens the door for Afrikaners facing unjust racial discrimination to apply for refugee status in the United States.

The move follows South Africa’s land reform bill, aimed at addressing racial disparities in land ownership. Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch and French settlers, still control a significant portion of the country’s farmland despite making up around 7% of the population.

Afrikaner organizations have largely dismissed Trump’s offer. AfriForum, a group that previously lobbied for international awareness of farm attacks, made it clear that relocation is not an option. "We don’t want to move elsewhere," said CEO Kallie Kriel. The Solidarity Movement, representing 600,000 Afrikaner families, also rejected the proposal, emphasizing their commitment to securing rights and economic stability within South Africa.

Even Orania, the self-sustaining Afrikaner-only enclave, refused the offer. "Afrikaners do not want to be refugees. We love and are committed to our homeland," the community said in a statement.

However, some Afrikaners welcomed Trump’s proposal. “It’s a very nice gesture,” said Werner van Niekerk, a carpenter in Cape Town. Others saw it as a potential opportunity, though few have confirmed plans to leave.

The South African government condemned Trump’s move, calling it politically motivated and based on misinformation. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) insists that land reforms aim to correct historical injustices, not unfairly target white landowners. Officials deny any plans for forced land seizures.

Trump’s proposal has divided opinion, but for now, the majority of Afrikaners appear set on staying, while some weigh the prospect of a future elsewhere.

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