South Africa has arrested and ordered the deportation of seven Kenyan nationals who were illegally employed at a centre processing applications for a controversial United States resettlement programme targeting white Afrikaners. The arrests, which took place in Johannesburg on Tuesday, follow reports that the individuals had entered South Africa on tourist visas and were working despite having been denied official work permits by the Department of Home Affairs.

The seven individuals are banned from re-entering South Africa for five years, and the operation has sparked new diplomatic tensions between Pretoria and Washington. Relations between the two nations have been strained throughout 2025 due to former President Donald Trump’s claims that white South Africans face “genocide” and racial persecution—allegations widely rejected by South African officials.

Background on the US Afrikaner Resettlement Programme

Trump launched the programme in February 2025 under an executive order titled “Addressing Egregious Actions of The Republic of South Africa”. The programme cut US aid to South Africa and prioritized white Afrikaners for resettlement in the United States, setting a refugee ceiling of 7,500 for 2026, with most spots reserved for white South Africans.

South African authorities strongly reject allegations of systemic persecution, pointing out that Afrikaners remain among the country’s most economically privileged communities. Major Afrikaner organisations—including AfriForum, the Solidarity Movement, and the Orania community—have largely declined the US refugee offer, citing cultural preservation and commitment to remaining in South Africa.

Arrests and Diplomatic Implications

The Kenyan nationals were employed at processing centres run by Afrikaner-led groups and RSC Africa, a Kenya-based refugee support organisation affiliated with Church World Service. South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation emphasized that the involvement of foreign nationals in undocumented work raises concerns regarding diplomatic protocol and the legality of refugee operations.

“The presence of foreign officials coordinating with undocumented workers raises serious questions about intent and diplomatic protocol,” South Africa’s foreign ministry said.

The arrests come amid heightened tensions after Trump expelled South Africa’s ambassador in March, boycotted the Johannesburg G20 summit in November, and excluded South Africa from the 2026 Miami G20, describing the country as “not a country worthy of Membership anywhere.”

Controversy Surrounding Trump’s Claims

Trump’s claims of white South African persecution have been widely debunked. During a May White House visit, he presented misleading footage from the Democratic Republic of the Congo as evidence, further straining US-South Africa relations. Scholars, such as Scott Lucas from University College Dublin, argue that the programme reflects a racially selective approach to refugee policy.

“If you’re white and you’ve got connections, you get in. If you’re not white, forget about it,” Lucas said, highlighting disparities in Trump’s refugee priorities.

Despite the programme, most Afrikaner groups have expressed a strong desire to remain in South Africa, asserting that they do not view themselves as refugees and wish to maintain their cultural and community ties.

Outlook

The arrests of the Kenyan nationals mark the latest episode in an ongoing diplomatic dispute between Pretoria and Washington over Trump’s refugee programme. South Africa continues to maintain that its Afrikaner population is not subject to persecution, while advocating for lawful and transparent immigration and refugee processes.