Nearly 70,000 South Africans have shown interest in US asylum following Trump’s offer to Afrikaners based on claims of racial discrimination. The South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA (Saccusa) reported a significant influx of registrations. This surge reflects rising tensions between South Africa and the US, particularly surrounding land reform issues and diplomatic relations.

Close to 70,000 South Africans have expressed an interest in relocating to the United States in light of a recent offer by Washington to resettle members of the Afrikaner community, according to the South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA (Saccusa). Their website experienced a surge, receiving nearly 67,042 registrations from individuals seeking further information regarding the resettlement opportunities.

In February, former President Donald Trump issued an executive order allowing Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch settlers from the 17th century, to be considered for refugee status due to their claims of facing “unjust racial discrimination”. The relationship between the US and South Africa has deteriorated since Trump took office, especially following this directive.

Saccusa has stated that they have formally submitted the list of interested candidates to the US embassy in Pretoria. Neil Diamond, Saccusa’s president, indicated that most registrants had Afrikaner or English surnames and typically fall within the age range of 25 to 45 years, often with two to three dependents.

Although Saccusa is not an official governmental entity, it became involved in assisting with registrations after experiencing a surge of inquiries about the resettlement process, according to Diamond’s interview with Newzroom Afrika. The discourse surrounding discrimination faced by some white South Africans has attracted attention from various right-wing factions in the United States.

Despite the discourse on discrimination, South Africans of white descent still hold a considerable majority of privately owned land and wealth, a situation that persists over three decades after the dissolution of apartheid. Relations further declined in January when President Cyril Ramaphosa enacted legislation to enable land expropriation without compensation, justifying it under the premise of “public interest”.

In retribution for the controversial land law, Trump expanded his refugee offer to include all farmers in South Africa, denouncing the country as “a bad place to be right now.” Pent-up tensions escalated when Trump decided to revoke aid to South Africa, prompting Ramaphosa to clarify that the country has not taken any land and that the new law aims for equitable public access in accordance with the constitution.

The ongoing disputes culminated in a diplomatic incident last week, as the US expelled South Africa’s ambassador, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeling him a “race-baiting politician.”

In summary, approximately 70,000 South Africans are showing interest in relocating to the United States, spurred by Trump’s executive order aimed at offering asylum to Afrikaners. Tensions between the two nations are palpable, primarily due to South African land reform legislation and the United States’ recent reaction in the form of financial aid cuts and the expulsion of diplomatic personnel. The situation continues to evolve as both nations navigate the complexities of immigration, race relations, and economic policy.

Original Source: www.zimlive.com

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