Afrikaner Refugee Errol Langton Turns To GoFundMe For Wife’s Cancer Battle

From Refugee To Fundraiser

When Errol Langton left South Africa earlier this year under former US president Donald Trump’s refugee programme, it was meant to mark a new start. He, his wife Jacqueline, and their family were part of the first group of Afrikaner “refugees” to arrive in the United States under the controversial scheme, which framed white South Africans as victims of racial discrimination and violent crime.

But only months later, Langton is back in survival mode. His wife has been diagnosed with cervical cancer, and the mounting costs of treatment have forced the family into a new kind of struggle one that cannot be fought with visas or resettlement papers, but with money.

The GoFundMe Appeal

Langton has turned to crowdfunding in the hope of raising $50 000 (about R870 000) through a GoFundMe campaign. His plea is simple: “We need cash.”

The funds are earmarked for Jacqueline’s ongoing chemo-radiation, which doctors say will take at least two years. While the family currently has Medicaid coverage, that lifeline only lasts 12 months for newly arrived refugee families. After that, the bills will start piling up.

“This fundraising is simply to prepare us for when our cover runs out,” Langton explained in his campaign update. “We are being proactive.”

More Than Just A Handout

Rather than framing the campaign as pure charity, Langton insists he is willing to exchange his expertise in tech, business operations, marketing, and project strategy for donations.

“Yes, we need cash input to bridge this season but we’re also builders, not just receivers,” he wrote. “If we can exchange expertise for your donation, we’d prefer it that way.”

It’s a message that reflects both pride and desperation, a balancing act many South Africans abroad will recognise: the refusal to ask for help without offering something in return.

Public Reaction And Controversy

On social media, reactions to Langton’s campaign have been divided. Supporters have praised him for his resilience and for speaking openly about the costs of healthcare in the United States. Others, however, have questioned the legitimacy of Afrikaner families seeking refugee status, pointing to the political framing of “white genocide” that underpinned their migration.

In South Africa, where millions struggle without medical aid or state support, the story has sparked sharp debate. Some users have expressed sympathy, while others have argued that Langton’s access to refugee status and US medical cover already puts him in a more privileged position than most.

The Larger Story

Langton’s appeal highlights more than one family’s struggle. It shines a light on the complex realities faced by South African emigrants in the US: the precariousness of refugee programmes, the cultural dislocation, and above all, the brutal cost of healthcare.

For Langton, who once ran an IT business back home and now works as a car wash supervisor in the US, the irony is painful. “After surviving so much, we now face a new battle not just against cancer, but against the crushing financial strain it brings,” he said.

As his GoFundMe page continues to circulate, his story is raising uncomfortable questions on both sides of the Atlantic: about race, privilege, healthcare, and what it means to truly be a refugee.

{Source:The South African}

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