Thousands of white South Africans who once left the country are now returning, challenging long-running claims by President Donald Trump that they face widespread racial persecution at home.
Government data, recruitment firms, and interviews with returnees show a steady flow of white South Africans moving back, even as the U.S., under President Donald Trump, has expanded a special refugee programme for white South Africans, particularly Afrikaners.
Statistics South Africa data show that nearly 15,000 white South Africans returned to the country in 2022 alone.
The return trend has gained momentum following changes to citizenship laws.
In November, the South African government launched an online portal allowing former citizens to check and restore citizenship after a 1995 law that stripped some emigrants of their status was overturned.
Trump’s Persecution Claims Fail
At the same time, the U.S under Trump expanded a special refugee programme targeted at white South Africans, particularly Afrikaners, described as descendants of Dutch settlers.
About 3,500 South Africans have entered the US through the programme since it began in May 2025.
Trump and his allies have repeatedly described South Africa as unsafe for white citizens, citing violent crime, land reform debates, and employment equity laws.
However, official economic and crime data from various South African research centers paint a different picture.
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Unemployment among Black South Africans stands at about 35 percent, compared with roughly 8 percent among whites, showing that economic hardship still falls more heavily on the Black majority.
South African police statistics also show that while farm murders do occur, more Black South Africans than white South Africans are killed in such attacks.
Why White South Africans Are Returning Home
Rising living costs have been cited by most of the returnees as a key factor.
White South Africans also say that living in the U.S and Europe, housing, healthcare, childcare, and transport costs have increased sharply, eating into incomes that once made migration attractive.
Some say they are earning more on paper but saving less in reality.
Political and social instability in host countries has also played a role.
Returnees also cite mass shootings, gun violence, and polarised politics in the United States, as well as economic uncertainty and security concerns in parts of Europe, as reasons for leaving.
Many professionals have kept overseas jobs while relocating to South Africa, earning foreign salaries while living at lower local costs.
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Recruiters say this has removed one of the biggest barriers to returning.
“Most people I know who are coming back believe the country is improving and offers a better balance of cost and lifestyle than Europe,” said Eugene Jansen, an engineer who returned from the Netherlands.
In an exclusive interview with Reuters on March 11, Andrew Veitch, a 53-year-old who moved to California in 2003, says he now feels less safe in the South Africa than he did in the U.S.
He pointed to frequent mass shootings and deadly encounters involving US immigration officers, saying violence has become routine rather than exceptional.
Family and Long‑Term Stability
Many White South Africans have also cited aging parents, proximity to extended family, and reliable childcare support as reasons to relocate.
They want children raised near grandparents, with stable routines and community networks.
Returnees have also described clearer paths to home ownership, school continuity, and predictable healthcare through private cover.
Several returnees say the move reduces travel costs for family visits and eliminates visa complications for routine caregiving.
For many, returning secures a durable base for education, caregiving, and careers over the next decade.
Ban these White Vampires and parasites from Africa. White countries are the REAL shithole countries.
Ban these Caucazoid Neanderthal mutants demons from Africa. These bloodsucking parasites MAGGOTS will contaminate Africa.