Lamola labels US govt's so-called 'Amerikaner' migration programme as apartheid 2.0

CAPE TOWN - International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola has labelled the United States (US)'s government's so-called “Amerikaner” migration programme as apartheid 2.0

He said the government won’t be making any concessions to allow the US to fast-track the approval of applications.

Recently, the Daily Maverick reported that the US was seeking to have Kenya-based staffers move to South Africa to help process applications from those claiming to be persecuted in this country.

Despite halting the intake of all refugees to the US in February, President Donald Trump made an exception for white Afrikaners.

Lamola said the US programme under which mainly white Afrikaners have been seeking refuge in the US is not a legitimate refugee programme.

He said those who’ve already left the country don’t fit the United Nations definition of a refugee.

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"It’s a preferential treatment of Afrikaners in South Africa to enter the US, and with our history of our country, preferential treatment of a particular group - the Afrikaners - who are not running away from any genocide in this country, is definitely apartheid 2.0."

Lamola said the government is not obligated to help facilitate the programme or approve visas for US staff for this purpose.

This, he said, has been communicated to the US government.

"It’s an individual application by those individuals, and Home Affairs has processed it in accordance with its laws."

Lamola said while it’s anyone’s right to want to immigrate, it should not be done under false pretences.