Trump US President Donald Trump repeated calls for South African farmers to move to his country.
Image: Roberto Schmidt/AFP
AN organisation protecting the rights of farmers are willing to coordinate efforts and support individuals and accompany families who want to take advantage of American president Donald Trump's offer to South African farmers of a shortcut to US citizenship.
The Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai) said they have agreed with various organisations, including Solidarity and AfriForum, to coordinate efforts and support individuals and accompany families who want to take advantage of the opportunity.
Trump on Friday reiterated that South African farmers were welcome to settle in the United States after repeating his accusations that the South African government was "confiscating" land from white people as he announced an end to federal funding.
Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that "any Farmer (with family!) from South Africa, seeking to flee that country for reasons of safety, will be invited into the United States of America with a rapid pathway to citizenship."
He said the process would begin immediately, calling the country a "bad place to be right now" as he announced a halt to all US aid to Pretoria.
Trump and the South African govenment are locked in a diplomatic row over a land expropriation act that the Republican leader says will lead to the takeover of white-owned farms.
The South African presidency swiftly responded, saying in a statement that it would not engage in "counterproductive megaphone diplomacy."
Within weeks of taking office Trump has suspended US aid to South Africa over its land reform policies.
Saai said based on inquiries and interest received over the past two weeks, since Trump first mentioned the possibility of offering persecuted farmers refugee status and a fast path to US citizenship, it believes there are three categories of farmers who could possibly consider the offer.
It listed families who were victims of farm attacks, farm murders, large-scale theft, looting, land occupations and violations - both by humans and livestock who are deliberately chased onto their land.
It also mentioned unemployed breadwinners, which included middle-aged white farmers, farm managers and agricultural workers who have been marginalised by strict BEE policies.
And then young, white aspiring farmers who face major obstacles in their quest to gain access to land, capital and other resources to establish themselves in the agricultural sector.
Saai said given the government’s clear intention to use the new draconian Allocation Act to change land ownership according to population composition, many of these young farmers see no future for themselves in South Africa.
In Saai's statement they said they had struck a deal with a major American law firm that will make 100 hours of legal assistance available to needy farmers and families who need help to take advantage of this opportunity — now or in the future.
Meanwhile multi-billionaire Elon Musk wrote on X, which he also owns: "Starlink is not allowed to operate in South Africa, because I'm not black".Starlink is Musk's satellite company.
Clayson Monyela, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s head of public diplomacy responded to the claim on the social media platform saying it was not true.
"Sir, that's NOT true & you know it! It's got nothing to do with your skin colour. Starlink is welcome to operate in South Africa provided there's compliance with local laws. This is a global international trade & investment principle. There are over 600 USA companies investing & operating in #SouthAfrica...all complying & thriving! @Microsoft just announced additional investments yesterday," said Monyela.