Ronald Lamola Calls the US Afrikaner Resettlement Program ‘Apartheid 2.0’
- The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, slammed the United States government's program to resettle Afrikaners in the US
- His comments came months after President Donald Trump granted Afrikaners refugee status and started relocating some to the US
- Some South Africans slammed him for saying the program is Apartheid 2.0 and accused him of overusing the term 'apartheid'
Tebogo Mokwena, affiliated with Briefly News, covered local and international relations, political analysis, and interviews in South Africa for Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News during his 10 years of experience.
Source: Getty Images
PRETORIA, GAUTENG — The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, said that the government will not assist the US government to fast-track the migration of Afrikaners as refugees. He slammed the US's Afrikaner resettlement program and called it 'Apartheid 2.0'.
According to Eyewitness News, the government will not, and is not obligated to, assist the United States' migration program for Afrikaners. Lamola said that the government communicated this to the United States government.
Lamola said that the Afrikaner resettlement program is not a legitimate refugee program as it seeks to resettle mainly white Afrikaners. He added that the 49 Afrikaners who left the country on 11 May 2025 and resettled in the US are not refugees according to the United Nations' definition.
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Lamola calls the programme Apartheid 2.0
Lamola further said that Afrikaners were receiving preferential treatment. He said that the Afrikaners' relocation and the United States' preferential treatment of them is apartheid 2.0. The minister said that immigration should not be done under false pretences.
United States President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order on 7 February 2025, granting Afrikaners refugee status. He accused the South African government of persecuting Afrikaners, seizing their land, and killing them.
Over 10,000 Afrikaners made enquiries through the South African Chamber of Commerce in thr United States for the refugee program after the United States after the US embassy officially launched the program. The South African government slammed the United States government for the program. The first group of Afrikaners relocated to the United States of America in May, and the government said they were not refugees as they were fleeing from a nonexistent genocide.
Source: Getty Images
South Africans roast Lamola
Netizens commenting on X were not impressed with Lamola's statements.
Kane said:
"Some of these Amerikaners have already fallen pregnant and given birth. We even forgot about them, and he's only issuing a statement now?"
AgentLeion said;
"We are already in the 2nd episode of Apartheid in South Africa."
Martin Williams was sarcastic.
"What a great diplomat Minister Lamola is. How does he imagine his insult will resonate in Washington?"
AllogusChild said:
"The ANC loves to use that word for every problem."
Nick van Graan said:
"Pity, you can't rather focus on running our country properly instead of calling others names."
Video of Afrikaners' US apartment trends
In a related article, Briefly News reported that a video of one of the apartments Afrikaner refugees were relocated to in the United States went viral. The video trended shortly after 49 Afrikaners relocated to the US.
The video shows how the Refugee Resettlement Manager for Lifting Hands International, Anne Perkins, prepared an apartment for the Afrikaners. The apartment was fully furnished and also had some food and clothes.
South Africans reject Ramaphosa’s focus on Russia-Ukraine conflict while local issues persist
Meanwhile, the Presidency stated that President Ramaphosa emphasised the urgency of holding bilateral and trilateral meetings between the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, describing them as crucial for demonstrating a strong commitment to ending the war.
President Cyril Ramaphosa engaged in discussions with European leaders regarding efforts to achieve peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with further meetings expected in the coming days and weeks. The Presidency stated that Ramaphosa highlighted the meetings as essential to demonstrate a firm commitment to ending the war.
Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya stated that Saturday’s, 23 August 2025, phone calls followed meetings convened by US President Donald Trump with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts, along with several other European leaders.
President Ramaphosa spoke to President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Finland's President Alexander Stubb.
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Source: Briefly News
