President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced plans to meet with US President Donald Trump following the recent arrival of 49 Afrikaners in the United States under controversial refugee claims.
The group reportedly travelled on a chartered flight from OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday evening, landing in Washington on Monday. Their departure has drawn attention after it emerged that they had been granted refugee status, a move the South African government firmly contests.
Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Monday, Ramaphosa criticized the classification of the group as refugees, stating they do not meet the established international criteria for such status. He said he had already spoken with President Trump and expressed concern that misinformation had influenced the decision.
“I told him I’d like to come and meet him so we can discuss this matter further,” Ramaphosa said, adding that the narrative around Afrikaner persecution misrepresents the reality in South Africa.
Government spokesperson Chrispin Phiri, representing Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, echoed Ramaphosa’s position during an interview with Newzroom Afrika. He rejected claims of systemic discrimination against Afrikaners in South Africa.
“The notion that Afrikaners are being persecuted is false,” Phiri stated. “Afrikaans remains a widely used language, even in education, and Afrikaners continue to hold prominent positions in society.”
Phiri also highlighted the cultural and historical presence of Afrikaners in the country, noting that South African cities still bear names honoring Afrikaner figures, and the identity itself includes individuals of diverse racial backgrounds.
Although the South African government disagrees with the refugee classification, it has confirmed that the 49 individuals left on valid South African passports and will not be stripped of their citizenship. However, Phiri acknowledged that once admitted into the US refugee system, the individuals cannot be repatriated by American authorities.