The first group of Afrikaner refugees who departed from OR Thambo International airport have officially touched down in the United States.
The group who consists of 49 individuals, landed the Dulles Airport in Virginia Monday morning local time where they were welcomed by members of the media as well as politicians, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar, ensuring that they experienced a pleasant flight and are warmly embraced.
The first group of Afrikaners from South Africa 🇿🇦has arrived in the United States of America 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/XphWktfx6w
— African Hub (@AfricanHub_) May 12, 2025
Meanwhile, the recent immigration of white South Africans come as a result of U.S President Donald Trump’s assumption that Afrikaners are being racially discriminated against by the new South African government with some of his key references including the killing of farmers as well as the confiscation of land.
Following their departure, President Cyril Ramaphosa has since provided his stance on the matter, claiming that he believes one of the fundamental reasons for them leaving is since they do not want to embrace the changes taking place in the country.
The president recently spoke on the topic while on a presidential panel during the 2025 Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where he said:
“I told President Trump what he had been told by those people opposed to transformation in South Africa is not true.
“We were well taught by Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo to build a united nation out of diverse groupings,” Cyril said.
“We are the only country on the continent where the colonisers came to stay, and we have never driven them out of our country,” he stated.
The president believes that the main reason why these “refugees” are leaving is due to the government’s decision to correct the past by leveling the playing field by embracing transformation.
“They are leaving ostensibly because they don’t want to embrace the changes that are taking place in our country, in accordance with our Constitution.”
