Researcher challenges claim of ‘white genocide’, urges scrutiny of refugee narratives

An independent South African researcher has questioned the accuracy of claims used by some emigrants to justify asylum applications abroad, arguing that parts of the country’s story are being misrepresented in international media.

Bianca van Wyk, a writer and independent researcher, has spent months examining court judgments, police records and asylum testimonies linked to allegations of a so-called ‘white genocide’ in South Africa. Her work, she says, is not aimed at stopping people from leaving the country, but at challenging narratives she believes do not reflect reality.

‘Rural crime is real, but the framing matters’

Van Wyk acknowledges that rural crime remains a serious concern, particularly for poorer communities, but rejects claims that white South Africans are being systematically targeted for political reasons.

She argues that the problem arises when isolated or unverified accounts are amplified internationally, often without scrutiny. “South Africa is reduced to cautionary tales that are simply not true,” she said.

Van Wyk warned that such narratives have previously been cited by extremists abroad, noting how South Africa has been misused as an example in far-right rhetoric, including by figures such as Anders Breivik.

A case that went viral

One of her most recent investigations focused on an Afrikaner woman who was granted refugee status in the United States after claiming her Free State guest farm had suffered four attacks in two years. The account was widely circulated on social media and referenced in international outlets.

Van Wyk travelled to the area and consulted court documents, interviewed the woman’s husband, who remains on the farm, and spoke to neighbouring farmers. According to Van Wyk, none of the alleged attacks were supported by official records, and the husband denied that such incidents had taken place.

She said the lack of corroboration raised serious questions, particularly given the scale of the claims and the absence of local media coverage at the time.

Community impact and missing voices

Beyond factual accuracy, Van Wyk says there is a human cost when unverified stories are broadcast globally. Farmers and residents in the area told her the claims had damaged relationships and threatened livelihoods, especially for tourism businesses such as guesthouses.

“The people missing from these stories are the South African communities themselves — farmers, workers and neighbours who have lived alongside one another for years,” she said.

Van Wyk stressed that her work is not about asking foreign governments to revoke asylum decisions or force people to return. Instead, she hopes journalists and audiences will apply greater scrutiny and consider whose voices are excluded when such narratives are told.

Calling for responsibility

She says the broader goal is to reclaim South Africa’s story from distortion, urging media — local and international — to do deeper checks before repeating claims that can inflame fear and division.

Van Wyk’s investigations have been published locally as part of a wider effort to counter misinformation around crime and migration narratives linked to South Africa.

For more information, listen to Van Wyk using the audio player below: