A group of 49 Afrikaners departed South Africa on a chartered flight to the United States on Saturday, 11 May 2025, under a new refugee resettlement programme backed by current U.S. President Donald Trump. The flight, operated by Omni Air International, took off from OR Tambo International Airport and is part of a broader policy that prioritizes white South Africans, particularly Afrikaners, for asylum in the U.S.
The group is expected to land at Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C., where they will be received by U.S. immigration and resettlement authorities.
This development marks the first phase of Trump’s renewed refugee initiative, which his administration claims is aimed at protecting “persecuted minorities” globally. The programme singles out white South Africans, citing alleged racial discrimination, threats of violence, and economic exclusion under South Africa’s Black-led government.
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Critics of the initiative argue that the move is racially selective and politically motivated. The South African government has strongly condemned the programme, stating that Afrikaners remain economically advantaged and are not persecuted. “This narrative is misleading and undermines our constitutional democracy,” said the Presidency in a statement on Sunday.
According to eNCA, the South African International Air Services Council approved the flight after confirming none of the passengers had pending criminal cases. However, the flight has sparked international controversy, with human rights groups and global refugee agencies questioning the precedent it sets — especially as many other refugee resettlement programmes remain frozen or under-resourced.
President Trump’s administration has defended the decision, pointing to South Africa’s affirmative action and land reform policies, which some Afrikaners argue marginalize them from economic opportunity.
For the 49 passengers aboard the flight, this journey represents not just a physical relocation, but also a symbolic departure from a country they believe no longer offers them safety or a future. “We love South Africa,” said one passenger anonymously. “But we can’t live in fear every day.”
The U.S. government has hinted that more such flights may follow, further intensifying a growing diplomatic standoff between Washington and Pretoria.
