(3 Minutes Read)
The South African government has strongly criticised the United States over its newly announced Special Refugee Programme, arguing that it is grounded in misinformation and undermines South Africa’s democratic and constitutional framework.
This reaction follows a Presidential Determination issued on September 30, later published in the Federal Register, in which former U.S. President Donald Trump set the refugee admissions cap for the 2026 fiscal year at 7,500 people—the lowest quota in U.S. history. The directive notably stipulates that the majority of these refugee slots should be allocated to Afrikaners from South Africa, described as individuals allegedly facing “illegal or unjust discrimination” in their homeland.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) voiced deep concern over the U.S. initiative, stating that it is “based on false assumptions” and reflects “a disregard for South Africa’s constitutional processes and democratic institutions.” The department emphasised that the long-standing claim of a so-called “white genocide” in South Africa has been thoroughly discredited and lacks credible evidence.
DIRCO further noted that many prominent Afrikaner leaders have themselves publicly rejected this narrative, describing their stance as “courageous and patriotic.” Given this, the department said, the creation of a refugee programme targeting Afrikaners is “fundamentally flawed and unjustified.”
The ministry also pointed out that the very limited number of South Africans who have shown interest in the U.S. offer serves as clear evidence that claims of systemic persecution are exaggerated or unfounded.
Moreover, DIRCO criticised the U.S. government for blurring the distinction between voluntary migration and legitimate refugee asylum, warning that “conflating the two is a serious mischaracterisation with significant legal and humanitarian implications.” Such an approach, it argued, could undermine established international protection frameworks and create confusion over the definition of refugee status.
Read Also;
Despite its sharp criticism, South Africa reaffirmed the importance of its diplomatic and strategic relationship with Washington. The department concluded by saying that South Africa remains committed to constructive dialogue and to cooperation on mutual concerns, grounded in respect for international law, sovereignty, and shared democratic values.
