Afrikaners have issued a powerful public response to the use of their community’s story in American political discourse. A group of Afrikaans-speaking South Africans authored and co-signed an article titled, “Not in our Name: Afrikaners Respond to the Misuse of Their Story in US Politics.”...Click to Read More >>➤

They firmly rejected a narrative portraying Afrikaners as victims of racial persecution in post-apartheid South Africa. The authors stated this framing, now leveraged to support the far-right ‘Great Replacement’ theory in the United States, is misleading and dangerous. They argue it distorts South African realities, weaponizes their history, and simplifies a complex social context into a symbol of white decline.

This comes amid reports that the US had allocated numerous resettlement spots for Afrikaners, with very few reportedly being filled.

Disillusionment with the American Dream

Dr. Lindie Koorts, a historian at the University of Pretoria, provided context in an interview with the SABC. She referenced media reports indicating that some of the first Afrikaners who relocated to the US now feel disillusioned.

Life there is not as easy as in South Africa, particularly when facing medical issues without US health insurance. Dr. Koorts highlighted the harsh reality of refugee status, which often prevents individuals from returning to visit friends and family for holidays.

She also questioned the very definition of a refugee in this context. Dr. Koorts pointed out that South Africans, while facing significant challenges, are not fleeing a war zone like people in Gaza or Sudan. The process of selling possessions and organizing affairs before leaving is not typical for those escaping immediate, life-threatening danger.

Debunking the Political Narrative

Dr. Koorts expressed a strong belief that the US political actors pushing this narrative do not genuinely care about Afrikaners. She suggested they are largely uninformed about the community.

The motivation, she argues, is fear-mongering. This narrative is used to stoke fears in the US and Europe about majority white populations losing their status due to migration and multiculturalism. Afrikaners, who have always been a minority in South Africa, are being used as a cautionary tale out of context to drive right-wing propaganda.

This, Dr. Koorts stated, is precisely why the open letter was penned—to clarify that this political weaponization does not reflect Afrikaner values. The core issue revolves around the misuse of the Afrikaner story for a foreign political agenda.

US Ambassador-Designate Stakes a Position

The political context for this response includes statements from Brent Bozell III, the US ambassador-designate to South Africa nominated by former President Donald Trump. During his confirmation hearing, Bozell said he would communicate US objections to South Africa’s foreign policy alignments.

He also stated he would advance Trump’s invitation to Afrikaners wishing to flee what he termed “unjust racial discrimination.” Bozell pledged to explore supporting the South African government to ensure all citizens can thrive free from violence. He also promised to support the call for South Africa to rescind its position on expropriation without compensation.

Confrontation on Genocide Claims

Bozell faced pointed questioning from Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen over the allegation of genocide against Afrikaners. Senator Van Hollen asked Bozell if he agreed that the claim was absurd, emphasizing that genocide has a specific legal definition.

When Bozell began to answer by saying, “If you were to talk to those people who are involved…”, Van Hollen pressed him for a direct answer based on official US policy. Van Hollen asked if the State Department’s legal advisor had concluded the South African government was engaged in genocide. Bozell replied, “Senator, I don’t know that answer.”

The ongoing situation highlights a significant divergence between a political narrative being advanced in the United States and the lived experience and self-perception of many within ...Click to Read More >>➤