JOHANNESBURG - The US decision to grant refugee status to a group of white Afrikaners is "misinformed," South African Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said Thursday.
Ntshavheni made the remarks while briefing the media on the outcomes of this week's Cabinet meeting, following the arrival of a group of white Afrikaners who were reportedly granted refugee status by the US administration under a program initiated by President Donald Trump through an executive order signed in January. The group departed Johannesburg for Washington on Sunday night on a chartered flight.
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Referring to the 49 white Afrikaners who reportedly arrived in Washington on Monday, she said "They do not fit the definition of refugees as set out in the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol."
Ntshavheni reiterated South Africa's stance on the allegations of "white genocide" and racial persecution, dismissing them as unfounded. "The Cabinet further reiterated that allegations of discrimination are unfounded and do not meet the threshold of persecution required under domestic and international refugee law," she stated.
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The minister pointed out that police statistics showed these claims to be baseless. According to the most recent quarterly crime report, only 12 killings occurred on farms during the last quarter, with just one involving a farmer.
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"The South African Police Service statistics on farm-related crimes do not support allegations of violent crime or genocide targeting farmers in general or any specific race group. The Cabinet refutes the narrative put forward by the government of the United States of America and remains open to constructive engagement to foster a better and common understanding of these matters," she added.
The South African Presidency has confirmed that Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to undertake a working visit to the United States next week to "reset" relations between the two countries.
