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Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has dismissed claims that the 49 Afrikaners who left South Africa for the United States did so because of persecution, adding that the government has seen no evidence to support such allegations.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe must encourage the South African citizens who participated in this matter, particularly regarding the execution order, to find their place here,\u201d Lamola said during a G20 media briefing on Monday.<\/span><\/p>\n Lamola addressed the issue following reports that 49 Afrikaners boarded a chartered flight from OR Tambo International Airport en route to the US. <\/span><\/p>\n The move reportedly followed an invitation extended under <\/span>President Donald Trump\u2019s refugee policy and was facilitated on humanitarian grounds. <\/span><\/p>\n The Trump administration had previously expressed concern over South Africa\u2019s Expropriation Act, legislation perceived to threaten the rights of the white minority, particularly Afrikaners.<\/span><\/p>\n However, Lamola dismissed these concerns as unfounded.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFrom the perspective of the South African government, and in terms of the executive orders that define refugee status, we have clearly stated, per the statement issued on Friday, that these individuals do not qualify as refugees under international law,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n He emphasised that crime in South Africa affects everyone equally, regardless of race or gender.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis has been proven by numerous statistics, including police reports, which do not support the claim of persecution against white South Africans,\u201d Lamola said. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cCrime in our country is a shared burden. It affects everyone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He added that while white farmers do experience crime, they are not uniquely targeted.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn fact, more farm dwellers are also affected by crime,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhite farmers are affected by crime like any other South Africans. This claim of persecution is simply not factual.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Lamola also addressed the group’s vetting process that left, confirming the involvement of the South African Police Service (SAPS).<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere was a process to check all criminal records and to follow the necessary procedures,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAs I have already stated, there is no evidence of persecution, none at all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He said the government has welcomed statements from various Afrikaner organisations that have rejected the notion of persecution.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhere challenges exist, there are legitimate platforms within the South African context to address them. This is a domestic issue,\u201d Lamola said. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOur legislation offers sufficient means for grievances to be addressed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Lamola urged continued dialogue and collaboration to counter disinformation about the country\u2019s treatment of its white minority.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe encourage more such engagements and platforms to clarify, on the global stage, the falsehoods that have taken root,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za<\/p>\n Politics<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has dismissed claims that the 49 Afrikaners who left South Africa for the United States did so because of persecution, adding that the government has seen no evidence to support such allegations. \u201cWe must encourage the South African citizens who participated in this matter, particularly regarding the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[4952,17630,118,4812,799,11418,409,17512,8988,11329,13070],"class_list":["post-240000","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-politics","tag-affects","tag-afrikaner","tag-claims","tag-crime","tag-international","tag-lamola","tag-minister","tag-persecution","tag-refutes","tag-relations","tag-relocate"],"yoast_head":"\n