https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/810948/over-10000-white-farmers-already-looking-to-exit-south-africa/
More than 10,000 white South African farmers have expressed interest in relocating to the United States following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
The move has sparked intense debate, raising concerns about the potential economic and social consequences for South Africa.
On 7 February 2025, Trump signed an executive order freezing aid to South Africa and prioritising the resettlement of Afrikaners in the United States as refugees.
The White House cited South Africa’s recently enacted Expropriation Without Compensation Act, arguing that it discriminates against the white minority population by allowing the state to seize land without compensation.
The administration further accused the South African government of fostering policies that undermine equal opportunities and contribute to racially targeted violence against landowners.
According to the order, the US Secretary of State and Secretary of Homeland Security will take steps to admit and resettle Afrikaners under the United States Refugee Admissions Program.
The directive aims to provide humanitarian relief to those allegedly facing systemic discrimination.
Speaking to SABC News, Neil Diamond, president of the South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA, warned of a potential mass exodus of skilled agricultural professionals.
He noted that within just 18 hours of the executive order’s announcement, over 10,000 inquiries had been received from South Africans seeking information on refugee status and relocation to the US.
He emphasised that the departure of experienced farmers could have severe consequences for South Africa’s food security, agricultural value chain, and economic stability.
Additionally, Diamond noted that the Chamber supports approximately 11,000 temporary South African agricultural workers under the US H-2A visa program, many of whom may also seek permanent relocation along with their families.
Diamond urged both governments to engage in urgent diplomatic discussions to address the underlying causes of this executive order and explore solutions that do not compromise economic stability.
“At this stage, we do not have a clear understanding of what led the US president to take this action,” he said.
“However, we have always maintained that policy decisions should be based on facts rather than misinformation.”