WATCH | ‘US refugee centres for Afrikaners? That’s just madness!’ – Mbalula

Trump

Cape Town – ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has strongly criticised the US plan to convert commercial office spaces into refugee centres for Afrikaners in Pretoria, calling it “madness”.

Speaking during a media briefing at Luthuli House on Tuesday, he dismissed claims of genocide in South Africa as unfounded fabrications.

Mbalula argued that South Africa is a peaceful country and that the real genocide is occurring in the Middle East, where efforts should be focused on finding a solution.

“The refugee centres, that is just madness that you can build refugee centres in a country as peaceful as South Africa and claim that people are subjected to genocide.

“The real genocide is happening there in the Middle East, that is what needs to be curtailed and even worked with everybody to find a solution”.

“So this thing that there is genocide in South Africa is a total unfounded fabrication,” he said.

Reports indicated on Monday that US President Donald Trump has initiated “Mission South Africa”, an effort to relocate white Afrikaners to the US, citing challenges they face in South Africa.

According to The New York Times, the initiative involves converting commercial office space in Pretoria into emergency refugee centres.

The programme, rolled out in phases, has reviewed over 8,200 resettlement requests and identified 100 Afrikaners for potential refugee status, the report said.

Security escorts have been provided for interviews, and US officials in South Africa are expected to finalise long-term resettlement strategies by mid-April.

The initiative comes as the US restricts entry for other refugees, including those from Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Syria.

Trump’s administration has also suspended financial aid to South Africa, citing concerns over policies like the Expropriation Act, which he claims target white farmers.

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