The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent Executive Order granting Afrikaners refugee status in the United States. In a statement issued on February 7, 2025, the EFF called for the revocation of South African citizenship for any individual who accepts the offer, arguing that such a move signifies a rejection of the country’s democratic values.
The EFF described Trump’s order, signed on February 4, 2025, as “frantic and irrational,” dismissing it as politically motivated and aimed at undermining South Africa’s sovereignty. According to the EFF, the decision is a reaction to South Africa’s role in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel, rather than a genuine concern for human rights.
“South Africa must revoke the citizenship of any individual who assumes refugee status in the USA based on this Executive Order,” the EFF stated on its official @EFFSouthAfrica account. “Doing so would protect the nation’s integrity and reinforce our legal framework, which promotes equality and social cohesion.”
Trump’s Executive Order cites alleged discrimination against Afrikaners as the reason for granting them refugee status. However, the EFF rejected this claim, insisting that it perpetuates a false narrative and undermines South Africa’s progress toward a more inclusive society.
In addition to calling for citizenship revocation, the EFF urged the South African government to strengthen its diplomatic ties with BRICS nations, including China and Russia. The party framed Trump’s order as part of a broader geopolitical conflict linked to U.S. opposition to South Africa’s ICJ actions against Israel.
South Africa’s Minister of International Relations, Ronald Lamola, echoed the EFF’s concerns, denouncing the U.S. for what he called an “unwarranted interference” in South Africa’s internal affairs.
The EFF’s stance has ignited a heated debate within South African political and social circles. While some citizens support the call to revoke the citizenship of those who claim refugee status, others see the proposal as extreme, emphasizing individuals’ right to seek better opportunities abroad.
As diplomatic tensions between South Africa and the U.S. escalate, the international community is watching closely to see how the two nations will navigate this growing standoff.