On February 7th, President Trump issued an executive order titled, “Addressing Egregious Actions of The Republic of South Africa.”
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The order accuses the South African government of serious human rights violations, specifically citing the Expropriation Act 13 of 2024. The enables the government to seize agricultural property from ethnic minority Afrikaners without compensation. The order criticizes South Africa for policies that have dismantled equal opportunity in employment, education, and business, and for rhetoric and actions that fuel violence against “racially disfavored landowners.”
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The order highlights South Africa’s “aggressive positions” toward the United States and its allies, including its accusation of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice and its strengthening ties with Iran for commercial, military, and nuclear purposes. These are presented as threats to U.S. national security and interests.
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It directs all U.S. agencies to halt foreign assistance to South Africa immediately, including development aid and health programs like PEPFAR. In 2023, the U.S. provided nearly $440 million in aid to South Africa, and this freeze is expected to impact public health and economic stability significantly.
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The order instructs the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to prioritize humanitarian relief, including admission and resettlement through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, for Afrikaners deemed victims of “unjust racial discrimination.”
Neil Diamond, President of the South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA, says 67,042 have requested information on Trump’s order to accept Afrikaner victims of racial discrimination as refugees.
He says the majority of requests are from people aged 25-45 who have children.
