Thousands of South African Afrikaners have expressed interest in relocating to the United States under a refugee programme initiated by former US President Donald Trump. A staggering 67,042 individuals have reportedly registered, seeking better opportunities and safety abroad.
This surge of interest follows Trump’s executive order in February 2025, prioritising white Afrikaner South Africans for refugee resettlement in the US. The South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA (SACCUSA) revealed that within 18 hours of the announcement, they received over 10,000 inquiries from individuals hoping to relocate with their families.
Neil Diamond, President of SACCUSA, recently travelled to South Africa to meet with officials from the US Embassy in Pretoria. During this meeting, he handed over the compiled list of names of those who had registered for the relocation programme.
Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Diamond described the overwhelming response to the initiative. “After the executive order was announced, we started receiving an incredible number of inquiries. By the next morning, I had received 7,500 emails, 2,500 text messages, and countless messages on WhatsApp and Facebook. Our servers crashed due to the sheer volume,” Diamond explained.
According to Diamond, the majority of those expressing interest are young South Africans, aged between 25 and 45, most with two or three dependents. “This trend indicates that it is mostly the younger generation, many of whom feel they haven’t fully benefited from opportunities in South Africa, who are looking for a better future for their children,” he added.
The growing unrest stems largely from South Africa’s land policies, particularly the recently passed Expropriation Act 13 of 2024. This act allows the government to seize agricultural land owned by ethnic minority Afrikaners without compensation. The controversial policy has been widely criticised, with many fearing for their future as landowners in the country.
In response, thousands of Afrikaners gathered outside the US Embassy in Pretoria last month to show support for Trump’s intervention. Many carried placards with messages such as “Mr Donald Trump, Thank You Very Much,” “Make South Africa Great Again,” and “Recognise the White Nation like Israel was recognised.”
Afrikaner commentator Willem Petzer shared videos of the rally, estimating that more than 3,000 people attended the protest. He explained that many of the demonstrators were there to express their appreciation for Trump’s stance against South Africa’s Expropriation Act.
In February, the US Embassy in Pretoria officially acknowledged receiving the petition from the protestors. “We received a petition addressed to President Donald Trump, seeking US support to change policies and laws affecting the Afrikaner community in South Africa. We will transmit the full text of the document to the President and Secretary of State for immediate action,” the embassy posted.
Trump had earlier accused the South African government of “egregious actions” for enacting policies that allegedly targeted Afrikaner farmers. His executive order cited concerns about increasing violence, discriminatory government policies, and economic exclusion of Afrikaners.
The situation continues to spark debate in South Africa, with many watching closely how the US government will respond to the massive refugee relocation request.