Political activist Pieter Kriel has criticised the recent move by a group of Afrikaners to resettle in the United States, saying their claims of racial persecution are baseless and that such a move threatens the survival of Afrikaans culture.
This comes after 49 Afrikaners arrived in the US under an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump, which labelled them as victims of racial discrimination. Reports indicate that more Afrikaners are expected to follow, with around 70,000 South Africans having reportedly shown interest in emigrating.
Kriel, however, has dismissed the reasoning behind the exodus.
“It’s impossible to claim refugee status while representing just 7% of the population yet controlling 72% of the country’s wealth,” he said. “People fleeing real persecution don’t line up at the airport with visas in hand — they flee for their lives.”
He further argued that relocating abroad undermines the very culture these individuals claim to want to preserve.
“You cannot protect Afrikaans culture in exile. Afrikaans culture exists in Africa — not in foreign countries that have no interest in carrying apartheid baggage,” Kriel added.
Kriel's remarks have reignited debates about race, identity, and emigration within South Africa, as questions persist over the motivations and implications of large-scale resettlement efforts.