‘I love all people of SA’: Afrikaner farmer on ‘refugee’ U-turn

An Afrikaner farmer who begged US President Donald Trump for help in a viral video earlier this year has done a U-turn about his decision to leave the country as a “refugee”.

This comes after the White House issued an official memorandum announcing a significant reduction of applicants to the resettlement programme to just 7500 in the 2026 fiscal year.

AFRIKANER FARMER REVEALS WHY HE’S STAYING IN SOUTH AFRICA

Earlier this year, Afrikaner farmer Armand Cilliers and his partner posted a TikTok appealing to US President Donald Trump for help.

The couple claimed that they were victims of farm brutality and feared for their safety.

Armand’s spouse said at the time: “This is not living or merely existing. This is a targeted rat race in a maze to keep us hostage and trapped, with the only outcome being gathered and killed.

“It is not a question of if we die; it is a question of when”.

Speaking to The South African, Armand revealed that a lot had changed since his video had gone viral. Although he had applied for the refugee resettlement programme, he had chosen not to leave the country

He said: “I decided not to go through with it. I have gotten divorced, my son has fallen very ill, and may not have long to live. So, I will be staying here in South Africa where my family needs me”.

Armand added that although there was “always fear of an attack, I refuse to let fear dominate my life”.

He continued: “I don’t mingle with people that have applied [for the refugee resettlement programme]. I have never been interested in why they want to go. Everybody has their own reasons.

“I refuse to get dragged into political debates; it has never and never will be about politics for me. I love all the people in my country.

“It is just that the crime and job opportunities are out of hand. And I wanted my family to be saved and have a fair chance at life”.

ONLY 7500 SOUTH AFRICANS GIVEN GREEN LIGHT

In an official memorandum issued this week, the Trump administration revealed that it had cut the admission of refugees from 125 000, set by former President Joe Biden, to just 7500 for the 2026 fiscal year.

The financial year runs from 1 October to the end of September 2026.

The statement read: “The admissions shall primarily be allocated among Afrikaners from South Africa….and other victims of unjust racial discrimination in their respective homelands”.

According to the memorandum, the notice stated that it was “justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest.”

In February, Trump signed an executive order, permitting the admission of South Africans, particularly white Afrikaner farmers, under a resettlement programme. According to Trump, this was due to the “racial persecution” and “white genocide” of the minority.

In May, the first group of refugees arrived in the US. According to reports, less than 500 predominantly white South Africans have since taken up the offer.