In a bold statement, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned white Afrikaners seeking refugee status in the United States, asserting that they are abandoning their responsibilities in South Africa.
South African President Calls Out Afrikaner Refugees: A Controversy Unfolds
South African President Calls Out Afrikaner Refugees: A Controversy Unfolds
President Cyril Ramaphosa criticizes white South Africans seeking asylum in the U.S., labeling them as “cowards.”
Ramaphosa's comments come amid tensions regarding the U.S. initiative to expedite refugee resettlement for Afrikaners, a move that adds complexity to the discussions surrounding race and post-apartheid South Africa. The President described the individuals pursuing this path as “cowardly,” emphasizing their duty to assist in the nation's ongoing transformation.
More than 8,000 South Africans have shown interest in the U.S. program, which permits the expedited resettlement of Afrikaners, despite the Trump administration having imposed restrictions on refugees from other nations. These prospective refugees may soon join the recent arrivals in Washington, D.C., further igniting the debate over their status and the implications for South Africa's socio-political landscape.
At a forum in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Ramaphosa reiterated his position, stating that Afrikaners do not fulfill the definition of a refugee, thereby disputing the U.S. administration’s claim that they deserve asylum. “They are running away,” he noted, urging Afrikaners to participate in strengthening South Africa rather than flee its challenges.
More than 8,000 South Africans have shown interest in the U.S. program, which permits the expedited resettlement of Afrikaners, despite the Trump administration having imposed restrictions on refugees from other nations. These prospective refugees may soon join the recent arrivals in Washington, D.C., further igniting the debate over their status and the implications for South Africa's socio-political landscape.
At a forum in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Ramaphosa reiterated his position, stating that Afrikaners do not fulfill the definition of a refugee, thereby disputing the U.S. administration’s claim that they deserve asylum. “They are running away,” he noted, urging Afrikaners to participate in strengthening South Africa rather than flee its challenges.
