Resettlement of Afrikaners as refugees in US politically motivated

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The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation says it appears that the resettlement of Afrikaners to the United States (US) under the guise of being “refugees” is entirely politically motivated and designed to question the country’s constitutional democracy.

The New York Times reported that the first batch of White Afrikaners is expected in the United States on Monday, 12 May. The country plans to transport them on a charter flight scheduled to leave Johannesburg on Sunday, 11 May.

Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump insisted that terrible things are happening in South Africa and accused the Cyril Ramaphosa-led government of confiscating land from farmers and minority groups using the Expropriation Act. Thereafter, he offered the white Afrikaners asylum.

GOVERNMENT CRITICISES US PLAN TO ACCEPT AFRIKANERS AS REFUGEES

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation said its Deputy Minister Alvin Botes held a cordial discussion with the United States Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, on Friday, 9 May.

The Department said the discussion follows engagements via the diplomatic channels where the government expressed concerns with the information conveyed that the United States has commenced with processing alleged refugees from South Africa and will begin resettling these citizens in the United States.

Dirco said that the internationally recognised definition of refugees as set out in the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol is someone with a “well-founded fear of persecution” based on race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.

The department said South Africa acknowledges that the determination of refugee status requires a factual assessment in light of the prevailing circumstances, having due regard for both subjective and objective factors.

“We reiterate that allegations of discrimination are unfounded. The South African Police Service (SAPS) statistics on farm related crimes do not support allegations of violent crime targeted at farmers generally or any particular race. There are sufficient structures available within South Africa to address concerns of discrimination. Moreover, even if there are allegations of discrimination, it is our view that these do not meet the threshold of persecution required under domestic and international refugee law.

“It is most regrettable that it appears that the resettlement of South Africans to the United States under the guise of being “refugees” is entirely politically motivated and designed to question South Africa’s constitutional democracy; a country which has in fact suffered true persecution under Apartheid rule and has worked tirelessly to prevent such levels of discrimination from ever occurring again, including through the entrenchment of rights in our Constitution, which is enforced vigorously through our judicial system. In addition, it is not clear how the principle of non-refoulement will be applied in relation to these citizens once they are resettled,” Dirco said.

GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BLOCK CITIZENS WHO WISH TO MOVE TO THE US

The New York Times further also reported that the Trump administration is preparing to help the Afrikaners find “temporary or longer-term housing” and “basic home furnishings, essential household items and cleaning supplies.

The administration is also planning to help the Afrikaners secure groceries, weather-appropriate clothing, diapers, formula, hygiene products and prepaid phones that support the day-to-day well-being of households.

Dirco said while South Africa challenges the United States’ assessments of alleged refugee status, it will not block citizens who seek to depart the country from doing so, as it also observes their right of freedom of movement and freedom of choice, specifically the right to leave the country, as contained in section 21(2) of the Constitution. However, South Africa must ensure that it is compliant with other domestic laws and prescripts.

“Through the diplomatic channels the Department of International Relations and Cooperation has sought the status of persons that will be departing, whether as asylum seekers, refugees or ordinary citizens; and assurances as to whether the persons have been appropriately vetted by competent South African authorities to ensure that they do not have any outstanding criminal cases pending against them, amongst others,” Phiri added.