'Refugee' Errol Langton: 'I AM an Afrikaner, farmer'
IT businessman and now 'refugee' Errol Langton has doubled down on his claims that he is both an Afrikaner and a farmer. He's also shed light on the circumstances that led him to leave South Africa last month.
Langton came under fire after his step-daughter branded him an 'opportunist' in a TikTok video.
In February, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order, fast-tracking refugee status to white South Africans – or 'minorities' – over his claims of 'racial discrimination' in SA.
Last month, Errol Langton made headlines as one of the 49 white South Africans who arrived in the US as 'Afrikaner refugees'.
However, many South Africans – including his stepdaughter – questioned his claims of being a 'farmer' and even an 'Afrikaner'. Some also called him 'opportunistic' for wanting to start again in another country, and in particular, a state – Alabama – where his own relatives immigrated to years ago.
While Errol told the New York Times that he was a 'leafy greens' farmer from KwaZulu-Natal, his LinkedIn account lists his experience in the IT sector, where he owned a large business. South African refugee Errol Langton. Images via eNCA/ Facebook
Speaking to eNCA's Annika Larson last week, Errol rubbished reports that the group of 'refugees' consisted of white South African farmers.
He said: 'That was never the mandate. It was minorities that were suffering persecution'.
Of his own identity, he said: 'Yes, I'm an Afrikaner, yes, I'm a farmer. But by everybody else's decision? Maybe not so much'
He claims that both being a victim of violent crime and struggling to find work led him to apply for the refugee resettlement programme.
'Being a white South African, BEE laws definitely compounded that issue', he added.
During his interview, Errol Langton also claimed that the refugee resettlement programme simply fast-tracked his plans, and he had wanted to leave South Africa in recent years.
He continued, 'This was just a much simpler way of going through that process. We ticked all the boxes required for refugee status. I've been looking for opportunities for my kids for a while. It was just the right thing at the right time.'
Of the refugees being called 'cowards' by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Errol added: 'If it means that my family is taken care of, I will wear that badge with honour'.
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