Written by Mohamed Kosow Salat
A group of white South Africans, recently granted special refugee status by the Trump administration, left OR Tambo International Airport last night.
The South African government has pushed back on their claims, saying these individuals don't qualify as refugees. According to international standards, refugee status is reserved for people who are forced to flee their home country due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political beliefs, or association with a particular social group.
However, members of this group—many of them Boers—say they’ve been living under constant threat. They point to a rise in violent farm attacks, sexual assaults, and a growing sense of insecurity as the reasons behind their decision to leave.
What’s raised eyebrows is the Trump administration’s decision to make an exception for them, despite its otherwise tough stance on immigration. In the same period, the U.S. restricted refugee admissions from countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, and much of sub-Saharan Africa.
Refugee advocacy groups have criticized the move, questioning why white South Africans appear to be receiving preferential treatment over other vulnerable populations.
Black South Africans are sharing humorous posts on social media about the departure of Afrikaners, joking that they are returning to South Africa with their tails between their legs. Some even went as far as saying, 'Dear Americans, please learn how to pronounce 'versoek' — an Afrikaans word meaning 'request.
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