Seeking a New Future: 70,000 South Africans Consider Moving to the US

Nearly 70,000 South Africans, primarily Afrikaners, have shown interest in moving to the United States following an offer extended by former US President Donald Trump.

This was revealed by Neil Diamond, the president of the South African Chamber of Commerce in the US, who confirmed that his organisation submitted a list of 67,042 individuals who registered their interest to the US embassy in Pretoria. This submission followed Trump’s executive order issued on February 7.

Diamond noted that most of those enquiring were Afrikaners between the ages of 25 and 45, many of whom had families with two to three dependants on average.

While their professional backgrounds were not specifically recorded, the primary concerns expressed by those interested centred around land reform and their treatment in South Africa.

The chamber clarified that it did not advocate for or against migration but merely facilitated the registration process for those exploring the opportunity.

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If these applicants decide to proceed, their requests will be evaluated by US immigration authorities according to standard procedures. However, the chamber has now distanced itself from further involvement, advising future enquiries to be directed to the US embassy.

Diamond emphasised that the organisation will return its focus to its primary mission—supporting South African businesses in the US and promoting tourism.

The possibility of such a large-scale migration has sparked discussion in South Africa. Some Afrikaner farming representatives have expressed reluctance to seek refugee status.

Theo de Jager, president of the Southern African Agricultural Initiative, stated that while they had received approximately 50 inquiries on the matter, only one came from a commercial farmer. As debates over land reform continue, the conversation around emigration remains a complex and evolving issue in the country.