‘No thanks’: White South Africans turn down Trump’s US immigration offer
Al JazeeraJAN 31
Over 67K White South Africans Seeking US Refugee Status
Above: White South Africans supporting US Pres. Donald Trump and South African and Elon Musk gather in front of the US Embassy in Pretoria, on Feb. 15, 2025. Image copyright: MARCO LONGARI/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The South African government's land reform policies and failure to protect white farmers have created an untenable situation where Afrikaners face systematic discrimination and violence, forcing them to seek refuge abroad. The new Expropriation Act threatens to strip away generational farmland without compensation, mirroring Zimbabwe's destructive land reforms.
Narrative B
The claims of persecution are exaggerated and driven by misinformation, as no land has been seized under the new law. The Expropriation Act aims to address historical inequalities and ensure equitable land access in accordance with the constitution, while South Africa's white minority still controls most of the nation's private land and wealth three decades after apartheid.