The US State Department has issued an “emergency evacuation” notice to white South Africans, particularly Afrikaners. The President Donald Trump administration has revealed its plans to significantly increase the intake of refugees from 7 500 to 17 500 as a result.
This will reportedly cost around $100 million.
To date, around 6 000 South Africans have resettled under the programme, implemented by an executive order last year.
Trump believes that a “white genocide” is taking place in South Africa – claims that have been disproven by authorities.
US ISSUES ‘EMERGENCY EVACUATION NOTICE’: MORE REFUGEES TO BE LET IN
This week, the US State Department sent Congress an “emergency evacuation” notice motivated by “unforeseen developments”.
In it, the Trump administration vowed to increase the intake of South African refugees by a further 10 000 in the current fiscal year.
This means that a total of 17 500 minority individuals, primarily white Afrikaners, would be permitted to resettle in the US under the programme, in the fiscal year ending in September.
In the notice, the US has accused the South African government and political parties of seeking to “undermine the US resettlement program and attack Afrikaners”.
Images via YouTube screenshot
It added: “This escalating hostility heightens the risks to Afrikaners in South Africa, who are already subject to far-reaching government-sponsored race-based discrimination.
“For these reasons, a revised ceiling of 17,500 is justified by grave humanitarian concerns and in the national interest”.
The Associated Press reported that the administration revealed that resettling 10 000 more refugees would cost around $100 million.
‘NOT ONLY FOR WHITE SOUTH AFRICANS, AFRIKANERS’
According to US commentator Chris Wyatt, the refugee resettlement is open to all racial minorities.
He said on his YouTube channel: “It’s not for white South Africans. It’s for South Africans suffering racial discrimination, predominantly white”.
Wyatt added that under US law, the administration must consult Congress on the annual refugee ceiling
