Mandela's grandson wants Afrikaner 'refugees' criminally charged
Nelson Mandela's 'great-grandson,' Mayibuye Mandela, has called for authorities to press charges against the two groups of Afrikaner 'refugees' who left South Africa for the US.
He's also calling on the Department of Home Affairs to revoke their citizenship.
The refugees are part of President Trump's resettlement programme offered to South African minority races who have experienced 'persecution'.
In a media statement, Mayibuye Mandela – an outspoken member of the Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) party – shared his strong opinions about white Afrikaner South Africans who had taken up refugee status in the US.
He said, 'Revoke their citizenship. Strip them of the right to call themselves South African.
'They have betrayed this country, they have lied about our people, they have attempted to spark international hatred toward our nation. They must never again benefit from the privileges of this republic.' Two groups of Afrikaner 'refugees' have resettled in the US.
Images via X: @usembassysa
Addressing President Trump, he continued: 'If more of them want to leave, do not waste your planes. Provide a ship. Give them space and let them live in peace. South Africa will not beg racists to stay. Let them go and let them stay gone.
'And as they go, we as a nation must act.'
On his X account, Mayibuye Mandela clapped back at critics of his comments.
He posted: 'This is our country. We will fight for it, protect its dignity, and defend its people no matter the cost.'
Who exactly is the outspoken member of the Mandela family?
According to his own admission, Mayibuye is not the literal great-grandson of Nelson Mandela, but rather that of the late president's sister Baliwe.
However, he told TimesLive: 'Yes, I am the great-grandson of Nelson Mandela, traditionally and in other ways; you can't do anything [about that]. Those discussions are not going to put bread and milk on my table.
Mayibuye did, however, admit that he did not have a close relationship with the freedom fighter.
He continued: 'We had a family relationship like anyone else. We would go to dinner, go for breakfast, we'd meet him here and there, and he was too old.'
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