Lesufi calls 'refugee' Afrikaners 'untransformed human beings'

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says the departure earlier this week of 49 Afrikaners to the United States as refugees at the invitation of President Donald Trump means that South Africa has rid itself of "untransformed human beings".

- Lunga Mzangwe

In an interview with the Mail & Guardian on Tuesday, Lesufi said the country was better off without the group, which he said consisted of racists.

"Anyone who is racist irritates me, racists are mindless, useless. They are selfish and feel that the best must be reserved for themselves.

"The 49 have defined themselves from what we stand for and I'm glad that the number is that low. It's an affirmation that the majority of South Africans agree that this country is beautiful and has possibilities for each to grow," Lesufi said.

The Afrikaners were flown to the US as part of Trump's executive order addressing “egregious actions of the Republic of South Africa”.

The Trump administration has said it is offering refugee status to white Afrikaners because they are being "persecuted" by the South African government through the Expropriation Act and race-based policies, and that there is a "genocide" being committed against white farmers.

The South African government has denied the claims, saying the policies are a way of correcting the consequences of the country’s apartheid past, and that the Expropriation Act is in line with the Constitution.

Safety and security experts in South Africa agree that there is no genocide being perpetrated against white farmers, who face the same levels of excessive criminality that all citizens do.

On Monday, Trump’s administration expanded eligibility under the United States Refugee Admissions Programme (USRAP) to include South Africans from racial minority groups.