US set to welcome white Afrikaner refugees as emigration move invokes mixed feelings
The U.S. plans to grant refugee status to 49 white Afrikaners, stirring debate about the legitimacy of their claims and sparking international scrutiny.
The U.S. plans to grant refugee status to 49 white Afrikaners, stirring debate about the legitimacy of their claims and sparking international scrutiny.
In a controversial turn of events, US officials from the Departments of State and Homeland Security are preparing to welcome 49 white Afrikaners to Washington, DC, as refugees starting May 12.
According to reports, US officials were trying to arrange a charter flight to land at Dulles International Airport, with commercial flights being assessed as an alternative.
A total of 54 individuals initially applied for asylum, but five were red-flagged due to criminal records. The decision, which has stirred both support and outrage within South Africa, comes amid growing concerns over the legitimacy of their claims, as critics argue that South Africa does not meet the conditions that would warrant refugee protection for any ethnic or political group.
This comes in the wake of the migration of 49 Afrikaners to the US, sparking a national debate.
Political analyst Sandile Swana has raised concerns, questioning the legitimacy of their asylum claims and emphasising that refugee status requires evidence-based grounds proving individuals can't remain in their country of origin.
"For somebody to be an asylum seeker or a refugee, there must be an evidence-based assessment that shows that the person has legitimate grounds, making it impossible for them to remain in the country of their origin."
He explained that in Africa, there are several regions, such as Eritrea, the DRC, and Sudan, where refugees come to South Africa to escape clear and well-documented dangers.
However, in South Africa, there are no such threats targeting a particular ethnic group, especially the white Afrikaners, or individuals based on their political or religious beliefs.
Swana also remarked that the Trump administration's political agenda seems focused on promoting a Western white Christian civilisation.
He explained, "They appear to be working to reduce the population of Hispanics and others who don't fit within this group, while increasing the number of those who align with this Western white Christian ideal.
''As a result, people outside of this group are being expelled from the US, while white Afrikaners, who claim to share this philosophy, are being brought in under misleading reasons to perpetuate the idea that whites, particularly those who feel oppressed, are being victimised."
He reiterated that this is a political maneuver aimed at painting the South African government, along with specific political parties like the EFF and ANC, as racist and targeting whites in South Africa. However, the evidence contradicts this narrative.
"No South African, regardless of their complexion, hair texture, eye colour, or religious background, deserves refugee status anywhere on Earth at this time. This move seeks to falsely accuse the government and certain political parties of unconstitutional actions, which is simply untrue. There is no evidence to suggest that anyone, regardless of their background, is being targeted unconstitutionally," Swana said.
The Star spoke to two of the asylum seekers, who revealed that their decision to seek refuge in the US was fuelled by desperation, driven by hunger and an overwhelming sense of disillusionment with life in South Africa.
Kirsten Van Der Vententer shared, "I'm waiting to go because I have nothing left in this country. I can't even afford bread. My children are hungry."
Meisie Tonder expressed, "I don't have to go! My husband is not happy here, so we will wait to leave. We don't know what the future holds."
IOL previously reported that US President Donald Trump suspended the country's refugee resettlement programme on his first day in office in January, leaving more than 100 000 people, already approved for resettlement, stranded after fleeing war and persecution in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan.
However, in February, Trump signed an executive order instructing his administration to grant refugee status to Afrikaners — descendants of Dutch and French colonisers — whom he claimed were being discriminated against in South Africa.
Elon Musk, a prominent adviser to former President Trump and CEO of Tesla, has made headlines by criticising South Africa's Expropriation Act. This comes in the wake of Trump's decision to cut off foreign aid to the country, where about 3 million Afrikaners reside.
Meanwhile, Trum took to his X account to unveil a controversial self-deportation programme, offering cash incentives and free plane tickets to migrants willing to leave the U.S. voluntarily.
"Today, I signed an Executive Order to launch the first-ever self-deportation program. Illegal aliens who stay in America face punishments, including sudden deportation, in a place and manner solely of our discretion. TO ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS: BOOK YOUR FREE FLIGHT RIGHT NOW!" The tweet reads.
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The Indian government has, however, moved decisively to counter its own brain drain. Through initiatives like the $1 billion IndiaAI Mission and tax incentives for returning diaspora experts, India is transforming from being the world's tech back office to becoming a self-sufficient AI innovator. Where Indian engineers once powered America's Silicon Valley's growth, they now develop cutting-edge AI solutions for India's economy in India. Under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, the country is projected to produce over 1 million AI professionals by 2026 through: Complete overhaul of technical education at the Indian Institutes of Technology According to a report by Gartner, the year 2025 will see 2 million new jobs generated by AI and Machine learning in India A joint study conducted by Microsoft and the Internet and Mobile Association of India revealed that India's AI market is expected to witness a growth of 20% over the next five years, the second fastest rate globally behind only China. The 'FutureSkills Prime' platform to reskill over 50% of the Indian professional workforce annually. Startup incubators focused on healthcare, agriculture and climate tech 40% of seats reserved for rural students in top programs, including an affirmative action reservation policy that proactively reserves seats for disadvantaged castes to study technology and related studies The National AI Marketplace which is a Government-funded platform connecting 50,000 AI startups with industry. And projected to add over $500 billion to GDP by 2030 The Semiconductor Mission with $10 billion investment to make India self-reliant in chip design • A 2024 report by American software company, ServiceNow, predicts that India would have created close to 3 million new tech jobs by 2028. While India surges ahead despite its challenges, we face painful contradictions as articulated by various experts and academics: Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA) is embroiled in SIU investigations, with the current and former board chairs embroiled in various scandals, while seemingly those deployed to lead this SETA are not appropriately qualified to lead South Africa's AI Race. Our universities produce fewer AI and tech graduates annually than industry demand. A 2024 information and communication technology (ICT) skills survey reveals a shortfall of around 77 000 high-value digital jobs in South Africa, with an additional 300 000 technology positions being outsourced abroad. Despite having 24 public higher education institutions, South Africa's education system is struggling to keep up with the demands of an expanding technology ecosystem. African Business Quarterly, Tania Griffin 2024. South Africa's ICT skills gap is further exacerbated by 'skills recycling' and the shortage of teachers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa's (IITPSA's) ICT Skills Survey 2024. The SETA deployment system also exacerbates our crisis. Of course, all political parties practice Cadre Deployment. The ANC, which is leading the GNU, has produced enough capable, progressive experts, black, coloured, Indian and white. The ANC must ensure that its cadre deployment policy prioritises truly committed professionals and experts who understand and can implement the party's vision of 'People's Education for People's Power'. This Youth Month, we therefore implore the committee to: Declare AI/tech Education Emergency Convene a National Indaba on AI Readiness to assess our education system's capacity for 4IR and jobs of the future, and audit government support for tech research and R&D Declare 2026 as the year of Youth Skilling and partner with BRICS Plus countries like India, China and Saudi Arabia, including countries in the Global North and Advanced Asia Collaborate with Unions to ensure their members are reskilled to mitigate against a job blood bath. Honourable chair, India, with its own challenges similar to ours, proves that sustainable transformation is possible if there is Political will. Their youth unemployment rate has dropped 12 percentage points since launching these AI reforms across the board. As we celebrate Youth Month, we must remember the words of Isithwalandwe /Seaparankwe Oliver Tambo, who opined there follows: 'The children of any nation are its future. A country, a movement, a person that does not value its youth and children does not deserve its future.' We encourage the committee to remember these profound words by OR Tambo this Youth Month. Yours in urgent solidarity, Phapano Phasha, Executive Director, Centre for Alternative Political and Economic Thought. * The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Indepedent, IOL, or Independent Media.
