Mmusi Maimane reacts to Afrikaners leaving SA to US
South African politician Mmusi Maimane has spoken out following news that a group of White Afrikaner families has officially arrived in the United States as refugees.
The 59 individuals, who are descendants of Dutch settlers, were granted expedited resettlement under a special executive order by former U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at prioritizing White South African asylum seekers.
The group touched down at Dulles International Airport on Monday, greeted by federal officials, a rare gesture in refugee resettlement.
Children in pajamas held American flags and clutched toys as they were ushered into a new chapter of their lives.
Their journey, which took just months instead of the usual years, was made possible through a government-chartered flight and an expedited review process that raised eyebrows across both continents.
Reacting to the news, Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane offered a powerful counter-narrative.
“Not all South Africans are represented by those who leave,” Maimane said in a statement posted on social media.
“While some seek asylum abroad, it’s important to remember that many of us are staying, working, and building a better South Africa, together, across all races.”
Maimane acknowledged that the country faces undeniable challenges but firmly rejected the notion that South Africa is in crisis on the scale of needing mass exodus.
“Yes, we face challenges. But we’re not a nation at war. We’re a nation in progress. Let’s focus on unity, truth, and the hard work of building one South Africa,” he said.
His remarks come amid a wave of global attention around racial and political tensions in South Africa, with critics citing crime, economic instability, and land reform as driving forces behind the emigration of White South Africans, particularly Afrikaners.
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