Lamola refutes claims of persecution as US relocation programme begins

International Relations Minister, Ronald Lamola said there is no proof that white farmers in South Africa are being persecuted.

This comes as the first group of 49 farmers accepted Donald Trump's offer to be relocated to the US and left the country on Sunday.

The group, which included families and small children, was expected to arrive at Dulles International Airport outside Washington on Monday.

Their departure also comes after US President Donald Trump in February accused the South African government of racial discrimination against white farmers and subsequently announced a programme to relocate them in the US.

Lamola, who addressed the media on Monday, indicated that there is no evidence that backs claims of persecution.

"There is no data at all that backs that there is persecution of white South Africans or Afrikaners for that matter. The police statistics, which we are prepared to share and release, do not back these claims. In fact, more farm dwellers are affected by crime. White farmers are also affected by crime just like any other citizen of this country. So, this claim is not factual and is without any basis," said Lamola.

Last week, Deputy Minister Alvin Botes held a cordial discussion with the US Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau after the US had indicated that it had started processing alleged refugees from South Africa and will begin resettling these citizens in the US.

Botes indicated that South Africa acknowledges that the determination of refugee status requires a factual assessment in light of the prevailing circumstances.

"We reiterate that allegations of discrimination are unfounded. The South Africa Police Services statistics on farm related crimes do not support allegations of violent crime targeted at farmers generally or any particular race.

"There are sufficient structures available within South Africa to address concerns of discrimination. Moreover, even if there are allegations of discrimination, it is our view that these do not meet the threshold of persecution required under domestic and international refugee law," said Botes in a statement.

Lamola also added that the refugees who have already left the country were taken through a vetting process to determine their criminal records and other details.

"There was a process of vetting for the South Africans who have left with the checking of their criminal records and all the necessary procedures. As I have said already, they can't provide any proof of persecution because there is none. There is not any form of persecution to white Afrikaners," he said.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile said while everyone should stay in the country, South Africa cannot force those who want to leave on their own accord to remain.

He was speaking outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court, in KwaZulu-Natal, on Monday, where he attended proceedings of the inquest into the death of former ANC President-General and Nobel Peace Laureate, Chief Albert Luthuli.

“On the issue of the Afrikaners going to the US, our position is that South Africa is a democracy. We have set ourselves a standard to believe that it belongs to all who live in it, black and white. We would like everybody to stay. We want white people in this country, the farmers; we want them to work in this country, but we can’t stop anybody who decides, ‘I do not want to stay in this country’. But we are continuing to build this country,” Mashatile said. 

Additional reporting Gcwalisile Khanyile

Cape Times