Mayibuye Mandela to Afrikaners Seeking Asylum: ‘Give Them a Ship and Let Them Leave’

Nelson Mandela’s great-grandson, Mayibuye Mandela, has ignited fierce debate after urging the South African government to revoke the citizenship of 49 Afrikaners seeking asylum in the United States.

In a scathing statement, Mayibuye labelled the group “traitors” who are peddling false narratives about land grabs and ethnic persecution in South Africa. “They have betrayed this country,” he said. “They have lied about our people. They must never again benefit from the privileges of this republic.”

His comments follow news that the Trump administration has agreed to grant the Afrikaners refugee status based on their claims of persecution—claims Mayibuye firmly rejects.

“There is no genocide in South Africa,” he said. “What exists is a country still recovering from centuries of apartheid and land dispossession.”

Mayibuye didn’t mince his words about what should happen next. “To Donald Trump and the United States government, if more of them want to leave, do not waste your planes. Provide a ship. Give them space and let them leave in peace. South Africa will not beg racists to stay.”

A Nation Rebuilding, Not Persecuting

Mayibuye stressed that South Africa is on a journey to rebuild, not oppress. “We are not looters. We are the rightful heirs of this land,” he said, voicing strong support for land reform laws like the Expropriation Act. “No false refugee claim or racist narrative will stop the movement.”

He called on the Department of Home Affairs to take action. “Strip them of their citizenship,” he said. “They do not deserve to call themselves South African.”

ANC Supports Mayibuye’s Stance

The African National Congress (ANC) has backed Mayibuye’s stance, describing the asylum claims as “a cowardly political construct” meant to undermine democracy.

“There are no Afrikaner refugees in South Africa,” the party said. “No one is persecuted for their ethnicity. These claims insult the sacrifices of generations who fought for freedom.”

According to the ANC, what’s being portrayed as fear of violence is actually discomfort with transformation and accountability.

“They flee not from persecution,” the statement continued, “but from justice, equality, and the end of historical privilege.”

The party further warned against the misuse of international refugee protections, stressing that “millions around the world face real persecution,” and those escaping diversity and inclusion should not be prioritized.

Washington Meeting on the Horizon

In an interesting twist, US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will meet with President Cyril Ramaphosa in Washington next week. The meeting is expected to address ongoing diplomatic tensions, including the controversial relocation of the Afrikaner group and the broader narrative around race and land in South Africa.

While the South African government has repeatedly stated that no genocide or land theft is underway, Trump officials claim they’ve received evidence suggesting otherwise.

A Nation at a Crossroads

As South Africa continues to confront its past and reshape its future, Mayibuye Mandela’s fiery remarks underscore a growing tension between historical accountability and misinformation campaigns designed to derail it.

The message from Mandela’s descendant is crystal clear: if you reject a just and inclusive South Africa, you are free to leave—but don’t expect to return.

{Source: The Citizen}

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