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EFF Slams Afrikaner ‘Refugee’ Claims as Trump Escalates Rift with South Africa

Published

4 months ago

May 14, 2025

zaghrah

South Africa’s political parties are uniting in outrage following the arrival of 49 white Afrikaners in the United States under the controversial label of “refugees.” The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), along with the ANC and UDM, have fiercely condemned the move, calling it a misrepresentation of South African reality and an attack on the country’s transformation agenda.

The group, which arrived at Washington D.C.’s Dulles Airport on 11 May 2025, was welcomed by senior US officials and heralded by President Donald Trump as victims of “persecution” and “land seizures.” Trump’s statements sparked fury in Pretoria, where leaders are accusing the US of meddling in South Africa’s internal affairs and using the refugee program for political theatre.

“Let it be categorically stated: there are no Afrikaner refugees in South Africa,” ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula declared on 13 May. “No section of our society is hounded or persecuted.”

EFF MP Poppy Mailola went further, urging the National Assembly to consider revoking the citizenship of those who left under “false pretences.” She accused the US of leveraging the situation to undermine South Africa’s stance at the International Court of Justice, where it is pursuing a case against Israel for alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Trump’s Narrative vs. South Africa’s Reality

At the heart of Trump’s claims is the Expropriation Act, a law signed in January 2025 to allow land reform without compensation in exceptional cases. While opponents, including Trump and his advisor Elon Musk, have painted the act as discriminatory, the South African government insists it’s a constitutional step to correct apartheid-era inequalities.

“There’s no genocide. There’s no persecution,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan. “We’re not driving anyone out. We’re building a just society.”

Crime remains a serious issue in South Africa, but official data shows that most victims are Black, young, and urban. Farm murders, often cited by right-wing groups, made up less than 1% of total homicides in 2023.

Refugee Status Sparks Global Debate

The US State Department has fast-tracked over 8,200 Afrikaner asylum applications since April, with 100 cases under review. Trump has linked their acceptance to broader critiques of land reform and “anti-white racism,” claiming South Africa is unsafe for white families.

However, faith institutions and civil society organizations in the US have pushed back. The Episcopal Church has declined to assist with resettlement, citing its commitment to racial justice and solidarity with South Africa’s constitutional transformation.

Even some Afrikaner voices, like journalist Max du Preez, have dismissed the refugee claims as “absurd.”

“This is about Trump and MAGA, not about us,” du Preez wrote. “It’s about US politics and white identity grievances.”

Geopolitical and Economic Consequences

Tensions between Washington and Pretoria are now threatening to derail South Africa’s chairing of the G20 Summit scheduled for Johannesburg in November 2025. Trump has threatened to boycott the event and recently paused $440 million in US aid to South Africa, citing concerns about the Expropriation Act.

Ramaphosa has indicated plans to meet with Trump next week to “set the record straight,” while downplaying Elon Musk’s involvement.

Despite the controversy, Ramaphosa emphasized South Africa’s global relevance, highlighting its $18 billion trade relationship with the US and its leadership role in promoting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).