South Africa Summons US Ambassador for 3rd Protest Over Afrikaner Refugees

The dispute centers on a U.S. plan to allocate 17,500 refugee spots for fiscal year 2027 primarily to White South Africans at a projected cost of $500 million. Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola has dismissed claims of persecution as "fake news" and labeled the refugee initiative a "race-based policy." While the State Department claims these individuals will fully assimilate into the U.S., critics have noted the program excludes refugees fleeing religious persecution.