U.S.–South Africa row deepens as Washington issues new threat over Afrikaner refugee plan

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The United States has sharply criticised South Africa over what it described as the detention, harassment and “doxxing” of American officials linked to a controversial refugee programme involving white Afrikaners, escalating a diplomatic row that has already drawn international attention.

U.S.–South Africa row deepens as Washington issues new threat over Afrikaner refugee plan

The United States criticised South Africa for detaining and harassing US officials linked to a controversial refugee program involving white Afrikaners.
Relations between Pretoria and Washington are strained due to differing views on foreign policy and the Afrikaner refugee program.
Washington condemned the release of American officials’ personal information by South African authorities as harassment and intimidation.
The United States warned of severe consequences for failure to address these actions, increasing diplomatic tensions.

In a strongly worded statement published by the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in South Africa under the header “Doxxing and Harassment of American Officials by the South African Government,” Washington said it condemned “in the strongest terms” the actions taken against U.S. personnel carrying out humanitarian duties.

According to the report, the South African Department of Home Affairs conducted a raid in Johannesburg following intelligence reports that some Kenyans had recently entered South Africa on tourist visas but were found performing paid work at a centre handling applications for "so-called Afrikaner refugees.”

U.S. warns of consequences over treatment of American officials

According to the U.S. government, South African authorities recently detained American officials engaged in lawful humanitarian work, while also publicly releasing their passport details.

Washington described the disclosure of personal identifying information as “an unacceptable form of harassment” that placed its officials in danger.

The U.S. warned that failure by the South African government to hold those responsible accountable would lead to “severe consequences,” signalling that the issue could spill into broader diplomatic or policy responses if unresolved.

According to the CNN, two US government employees were briefly detained during the raid, though South Africa’s statement said no American officials were arrested

The Afrikaner refugee programme has become particularly sensitive, with South African officials pushing back against narratives they argue misrepresent domestic conditions, while Washington frames its involvement as humanitarian.

For now, the South African government has yet to issue a detailed public response to the U.S. statement.

However, the unusually direct language from Washington suggests growing impatience and raises the stakes for bilateral relations at a time when both countries are navigating an increasingly tense global diplomatic environment.

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