The South African Chamber of Commerce in the United States (SACCUSA) faced an overwhelming influx of inquiries over the weekend, leading to the crash of its email server. This surge followed former US President Donald Trump’s executive order prioritizing white South Africans in a refugee resettlement program, amid a growing diplomatic row over South Africa’s land expropriation act.
Mass Interest in US Resettlement
Neil Diamond, head of SACCUSA, revealed that the organization had received over 20,000 emails from white South Africans seeking information on resettlement options in the US. “Given the scale of interest, we estimate this figure could represent over 50,000 individuals looking to leave South Africa,” Diamond stated.
The interest in relocating has raised concerns about a potential skills shortage in South Africa, particularly in the agricultural sector. “If we look at the EB-5 investor visa, you need roughly R15 to R20 million to immigrate. What is alarming is the sheer volume of people interested in this opportunity,” Diamond explained.
Trump’s Executive Order Sparks Controversy
The executive order, issued last Friday, claims that South Africa’s recently enacted Expropriation Act 13 of 2024 allows the government to seize white-owned farms without compensation under exceptional circumstances. Trump’s order directs Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to prioritize resettlement for white South Africans facing “unjust racial discrimination.”
However, South Africa’s foreign ministry dismissed the claims, stating that the order “lacks factual accuracy and fails to recognize South Africa’s profound and painful history of colonialism and apartheid.” The ministry further criticized the US for prioritizing refugee status for a relatively privileged group while simultaneously denying asylum to vulnerable people from other regions.
Legal Challenges and Political Reactions
The Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s second-largest party, has launched a legal bid to annul the Expropriation Act, arguing that it could lead to forced land confiscations similar to those witnessed in Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, some Afrikaner farmers fear that the new law could directly impact their land ownership rights.
The land ownership debate remains a deeply contentious issue in South Africa, with farmland still predominantly owned by white individuals three decades after the end of apartheid. As diplomatic tensions escalate, many are closely watching how the US government will proceed with Trump’s proposed resettlement plan.
