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Trump's Afrikaners refugees will not lose South African citizenship
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Trump signed an Executive Order on February 7, 2025, titled "Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa", granting Afrikaners refugee status and facilitating their resettlement in the United States.
In response, thousands of South Africans have reached out for information regarding the process and implications of this executive order.
"It is important to note that no official process has been established. However, we are committed to keeping you informed as new information becomes available," the chamber said.
Speaking to the South African Broadcasting Corporation, immigration expert Ashraf Essop said one does not lose their South African citizenship after relocating to the United States under Trump's executive order.
An immigration expert says Afrikaners who relocate to be refugees in US will not lose SA citizenship.
"Citizenship in South Africa falls under the auspices of the Citizenship Act. One important thing to realise is that it is a constitutional right to citizenship. You do not lose your citizenship by merely leaving. One of the ways you could lose your citizenship is if you take up arms against the Republic and fight for a State that is at war with the Republic. You could put any definition on war with the Republic and see if that fits," he told the broadcaster.
"Certainly it is not an abusive regime. It is a very strict regime … the deprivation of citizenship is guided by the South African Citizenship Act and it is a constitutionally guaranteed right. Recently, the aspect of dual citizenship is so important that the Supreme Court of Appeals said if a person takes up citizenship of another country voluntarily, it doesn't mean that you lose South Africa citizenship."
Essop also pointed out that in South Africa, citizens of different countries seek asylum and refugee status.
"None of them have lost their citizenship of their own country except for two instances - in the case of a Cuban family that had left Cuba, they are determined as stateless because they can't go back, and on the basis of being stateless, South Africa said we will then extend permanent residence and citizenship to you. That was by operation of law of Cuba," he said.
"South Africa does not hold that regime that says if you leave South Africa and go and apply for status elsewhere, you automatically lose South African citizenship. That is not the case."
In response, thousands of South Africans have reached out for information regarding the process and implications of this executive order.
"It is important to note that no official process has been established. However, we are committed to keeping you informed as new information becomes available," the chamber said.
Speaking to the South African Broadcasting Corporation, immigration expert Ashraf Essop said one does not lose their South African citizenship after relocating to the United States under Trump's executive order.
An immigration expert says Afrikaners who relocate to be refugees in US will not lose SA citizenship.
"Citizenship in South Africa falls under the auspices of the Citizenship Act. One important thing to realise is that it is a constitutional right to citizenship. You do not lose your citizenship by merely leaving. One of the ways you could lose your citizenship is if you take up arms against the Republic and fight for a State that is at war with the Republic. You could put any definition on war with the Republic and see if that fits," he told the broadcaster.
"Certainly it is not an abusive regime. It is a very strict regime … the deprivation of citizenship is guided by the South African Citizenship Act and it is a constitutionally guaranteed right. Recently, the aspect of dual citizenship is so important that the Supreme Court of Appeals said if a person takes up citizenship of another country voluntarily, it doesn't mean that you lose South Africa citizenship."
Essop also pointed out that in South Africa, citizens of different countries seek asylum and refugee status.
"None of them have lost their citizenship of their own country except for two instances - in the case of a Cuban family that had left Cuba, they are determined as stateless because they can't go back, and on the basis of being stateless, South Africa said we will then extend permanent residence and citizenship to you. That was by operation of law of Cuba," he said.
"South Africa does not hold that regime that says if you leave South Africa and go and apply for status elsewhere, you automatically lose South African citizenship. That is not the case."
Source - iol
