South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, led by Minister Ronald Lamola, condemned a United States plan under President Donald Trump to cap refugee admissions at 7,500 for fiscal 2026 and give priority to white Afrikaner South Africans. The department said the rationale rests on false claims of racial persecution, noted that South African law protects all residents, and pointed to Afrikaner voices that dispute a narrative of white genocide. Pretoria said it aims to defend facts while maintaining ties with Washington.
A U.S. notice on Thursday set the lowest ceiling since 1980, far below the 125,000 level under President Joe Biden. Admissions were paused in January 2025, then a preference for Afrikaners was introduced. DIRCO said few South Africans sought that route, argued that the right to emigrate is not the same as refugee status, and warned of harm to global protection systems. Rights groups called the cut discriminatory and said it sidelines people escaping wars. South Africa cautioned that the shift could strain cooperation, such as AGOA.
A U.S. notice on Thursday set the lowest ceiling since 1980, far below the 125,000 level under President Joe Biden. Admissions were paused in January 2025, then a preference for Afrikaners was introduced. DIRCO said few South Africans sought that route, argued that the right to emigrate is not the same as refugee status, and warned of harm to global protection systems. Rights groups called the cut discriminatory and said it sidelines people escaping wars. South Africa cautioned that the shift could strain cooperation, such as AGOA.
