International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola has firmly denied allegations of persecution against white South Africans, especially white farmers.
This is after a group of 49 Afrikaners left South Africa on Sunday after being granted refugee status by the Trump administration, following claims that they were “victims of unjust racial discrimination“.
The group is expected to arrive at the Dulles International Airport in Virginia on Monday.
Addressing a media briefing in Pretoria on Monday on South Africa’s G20 Presidency, Lamola said the South African government refutes the claim that white South Africans are persecuted and qualify as refugees.
“We have stated... that, in line with the international definition, they do not qualify for that status, according to us, and there is no persecution of Afrikaners in South Africa.”
Lamola said that crime in South Africa affects all citizens regardless of race, and there is no systematic targeting of Afrikaners.
“Crime in South Africa affects everyone, irrespective of race and gender. There is a more pronounced crime that we are dealing with, which the President has declared a pandemic, [and that] is... gender-based violence, which is a societal challenge that we have to respond to.
“But there’s no danger at all that backs that there is persecution of white South Africans or Afrikaners (sic).”
The Minister said police statistics do not support claims of racial persecution, and that crime is a national challenge affecting all South Africans.
“In fact, more farm dwellers are also affected by crime, and white farmers do get [more] affected by crime, just like any other South African who gets affected by crime. So this is not factual... and [it is] without basis.”
On the question of whether these "refugees” have been vetted, Lamola said there was a process they had to undergo involving the South African Police Service (SAPS), such as checking all their criminal records.
“As I've said earlier, they can’t provide any proof of prosecution because there’s none… And we’re glad that a number of organisations, even from Afrikaner structures, have denounced this so-called ‘persecution’.”
Lamola stated that where there are challenges, there are platforms to resolve them within the South African context, making this a domestic issue.
“Our legislation provides sufficient platforms for any issue to be ventilated in that regard, and white South Africans, including Afrikaners, have voiced their views in this regard, and we welcome that as the government of South Africa. We encourage more of such engagements and platforms to clarify on the world stage this disinformation.”
The Minister took the time to denounce the notion of persecution and highlighted domestic platforms for resolving issues.
Regarding the Group of 20 (G20) Leaders’ Summit set for later this year, he said all members are invited, and that the participation of the United States and Russia is left to their discretion.
Meanwhile, Lamola announced that South Africa has extended invitations to African countries and other global entities, with any further invitations requiring consensus among G20 members. – SAnews.gov.za
