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The South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA (SACCUSA) received over 17 500 emails, texts, calls, and messages from South Africans across all communities, most enquiring on behalf of their entire families.

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Sizwe sama Yende

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The South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA (SACCUSA) has been overwhelmed with many calls from South Africans accepting President Donald Trump’s asylum offer.

SACCUSA president, Neil Diamond, said in a statement on Monday that the volumes of enquiries from South African across “all communities” was “unprecedented.”

Trump has signed an executive order cutting off US’ financial aid to South Africa in reaction to President Ramaphosa’s signing of the  Expropriation Act No. 13 of 2024 that made a provision for expropriation land without compensation in certain circumstances

He then invited Afrikaners to relocate to the US – an offer which organisations such as Afriforum, Solidarity Union and residents of Orania have rejected.

On the weekend, AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said: “Emigration only offers an opportunity for Afrikaners who are willing to risk potentially sacrificing their descendants’ cultural identity as Afrikaners. The price for that is simply too high.”

Despite this, the Umkhonto we Sizwe Party (MK) deputy president, Dr John Hlophe, announced that the party had laid a charge of treason against Afriforum in light of its admission that it engaged Trump to raise its concern about the Expropriation Act.

Diamond said that this past weekend alone, SACCUSA received over 17 500 emails, texts, calls, and messages “from South Africans across all communities, most enquiring on behalf of their entire families. “

“Given the scale of interest, SACCUSA estimates that this figure could represent over 50 000 individuals looking to leave South Africa and seek resettlement in the United States,” he said.

Diamond said that the response has completely exceeded SACCUSA’s capacity and its infrastructure to manage enquiries collapsed, prompting the chamber to establish an online information registration system to provide updates and information to those interested. 

“This executive order has opened the floodgates for South Africans, particularly skilled farmers, to explore the opportunity of resettlement in the U.S.,” said Diamond.

 “The sheer number of enquiries we’ve received indicates that thousands of South Africans, particularly in the agricultural sector, are seeking a fresh start in the United States, bringing valuable expertise to America.” 

South African farmers and agricultural workers are highly regarded worldwide, and their potential migration could significantly impact both US agriculture and South Africa’s food security, he said.

 SACCUSA has formally requested further details from the US State Department and the US Mission to South Africa regarding the application process, eligibility requirements, and logistical procedures to provide accurate information. 

Diamond said that SACCUSA did not process refugee applications or give immigration advice and directed applicants to US government authorities.

Head of land reform at Werkmans Attorneys, Bulelwa Mabasa, said it was a misconception that expropriation without compensation was the answer to all land reform problems.

Mabasa said the  move away from the ‘willing buyer, willing seller’ model to the ‘just and equitable’ model of compensation would impact expropriations for land reform and would make compensation more affordable for the state.

“Expropriation without compensation as it is set out in the Expropriation Act would only be applicable in very limited circumstances, and would only apply to land which is not in productive use,” she said.

Mabasa said that expropriation without compensation  would have no significant impact on land reform in urban and developed areas.

“South Africa’s land reform issues go significantly deeper than the Constitutional method of determining compensation, and will not be solved solely by the promulgation of the Expropriation Act,” she said.