JOHANNESBURG — A group of 49 White South Africans, primarily Afrikaners, departed Johannesburg on Sunday after being granted refugee status by the United States, marking the first such resettlement since a controversial directive was issued by President Donald Trump earlier this year.

The chartered flight left OR Tambo International Airport around 2 p.m. ET, making a scheduled stop in Dakar for refueling before continuing to Washington, D.C. The plane is expected to land at Dulles International Airport early Monday, with the group then traveling to Texas, where they will begin the next chapter of their lives.

This unprecedented move comes amid increasing diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and South Africa, as well as growing controversy surrounding the Trump administration’s handling of global refugee admissions.

Who Are the Afrikaners Being Resettled?

The passengers include mostly Afrikaner families, as well as some young couples and elderly individuals, according to Collen Msibi, a spokesperson for South Africa’s Transport Ministry. Afrikaners are descendants of European colonists, primarily of Dutch, German, and French origin, and have historically occupied a privileged position in South African society.

“The application for the permit (to land) said it’s the Afrikaners who are relocating to the USA as refugees,” Msibi told AFP.

The U.S. State Department confirmed that the group had gone through refugee screening, and a press event is reportedly planned for Monday at Dulles Airport to formally welcome the arrivals, though officials have said plans could change. (State Department Website)

Trump’s Executive Order: A Refugee Exception?

In February 2025, President Trump issued an executive order directing U.S. officials to use the federal refugee resettlement program to admit White South African farmers, citing what he called “government-sponsored, race-based discrimination.”

The order followed widely circulated — and disputed — claims about land expropriation without compensation targeting White landowners under South Africa’s post-apartheid land reform efforts. Critics of the policy, including Elon Musk, a South African-born entrepreneur, allege that the reforms open the door to racially motivated seizures of property.

South African officials, however, have denied any systemic discrimination or land seizures based on race. The government argues that land reform is a necessary tool to redress apartheid-era imbalances, where the White minority controlled vast amounts of land and wealth.

“This resettlement initiative is entirely politically motivated and designed to question South Africa’s constitutional democracy,” said a spokesperson for the country’s foreign ministry. While not blocking the departures, officials say the program mischaracterizes the nation’s social and legal frameworks.

Refugee Processing Exceptionally Fast

The processing of the Afrikaners has been much faster than traditional refugee cases. Typically, refugee admissions take 18 to 24 months, including background checks, interviews, and medical screenings. However, under Trump’s directive, the cases of these Afrikaners were expedited — many completed in just weeks or a few months.

This stands in stark contrast to the administration’s broader refugee policies, which have restricted admissions for most other groups. Immediately after returning to office in January, Trump issued an order halting all other refugee arrivals, citing national security concerns.

Despite the broader ban, Trump stated in March 2025 that any White South African farmer seeking to flee would have a rapid pathway to U.S. citizenship. This position has sparked criticism from human rights advocates, who argue that it politicizes refugee protections and applies a racially biased standard to humanitarian admissions.

U.S.–South Africa Relations Hit a New Low

The move has exacerbated already strained relations between the U.S. and South Africa. Earlier this year, the U.S. expelled Pretoria’s ambassador following disagreements over foreign policy and human rights. The resettlement of Afrikaners has added a new layer of diplomatic friction, with South African officials accusing the U.S. of undermining the country’s post-apartheid progress.

Despite these tensions, the State Department reiterated that it is prioritizing Afrikaner applicants who “are victims of unjust racial discrimination.” The U.S. embassy in Pretoria continues to receive resettlement inquiries, according to a statement.

Historical Context: Afrikaners in Post-Apartheid South Africa

Today, White South Africans make up about 7.3% of the population and generally maintain a higher standard of living than the Black majority. During the apartheid era, Afrikaner-led governments enforced a brutal system of racial segregation, denying 75% of the population basic political and economic rights.

South Africa transitioned to a multiracial democracy in 1994, with the election of Nelson Mandela as its first Black president. While the country has made progress toward equality, deep economic disparities remain, fueling tensions over land ownership and wealth redistribution.

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