49 'white South Africans' depart for US under Trump's refugee programme

A group of 49 white South Africans, primarily Afrikaners, departed Johannesburg on Sunday for the United States under a refugee programme initiated by President Donald Trump.

The charter flight, operated by Omni Air International, was scheduled to arrive at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., before continuing to Texas.

In February 2025, President Trump signed an executive order offering refugee status to Afrikaners, citing alleged racial discrimination by South Africa's Black-led government, particularly through affirmative action policies and a contentious land expropriation law.

The US administration described this as "race-based persecution."

However, the South African government has strongly refuted these claims.

Officials argue that Afrikaners remain among the country's most economically privileged groups, owning a significant portion of private land and holding substantial wealth.

They contend that the new land reform policies aim to address historical injustices from the apartheid era, not to target white South Africans.

The Trump administration's decision to fast-track refugee applications for this group has drawn criticism from various quarters.

Refugee advocacy groups question the prioritisation of white South Africans over individuals from conflict zones and those hailing from other ethnic backgrounds.

Additionally, some Afrikaner organisations have declined the offer, expressing their commitment to remaining in South Africa and contributing to its future.