White South African refugee lists Gqeberha home for R2.3 million after relocating to U.S. under Trump-era program
| Afrikaner refugee Santana de Bruyn holding American flags arrived, Monday, 12 May 2025, at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Va. (Image Julia Demaree Nikhinson) |
GQEBERHA, South Africa – Santana de Bruyn, a white South African who recently relocated to the United States under a controversial refugee program, has listed her five-bedroom home in Lorraine, Gqeberha, for R2.3 million.
Described as an “oasis,” the property boasts spacious living areas and a swimming pool, reflecting a comfortable suburban lifestyle. The move comes after de Bruyn and her family became part of a group of 59 white South Africans who arrived in the U.S. in May 2025 under a special refugee program initiated by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The program, dubbed “Mission South Africa,” was launched following an executive order signed in February 2025. It prioritizes refugee status for white South Africans, particularly Afrikaners, on the grounds of alleged systemic violence and discrimination related to post-apartheid land reform efforts.
De Bruyn’s departure is emblematic of the growing number of white South Africans seeking relocation opportunities overseas, citing safety concerns and economic uncertainty. Though individual motivations vary, many who have applied under the program express fears over targeted farm attacks and what they describe as deteriorating living conditions.Today @DeputySecState welcomed the first group of Afrikaner refugees fleeing persecution from their native South Africa. We stand with these refugees, many of them farmers and former business owners, as they build a better future for themselves and their children here in the… pic.twitter.com/W16RJSU3tB
— Department of State (@StateDept) May 12, 2025
The U.S. initiative has sparked international controversy. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has strongly condemned the program, arguing it misrepresents the realities of life in South Africa and undermines its constitutional democracy. “There is no systemic persecution of any racial group in South Africa,” Ramaphosa said in a public statement, calling the move politically motivated.
Within the United States, the program has also faced opposition. Several humanitarian and religious organizations, including the Episcopal Church, have withdrawn from their federal partnerships in protest, arguing that the initiative distorts the mission of refugee resettlement.
Despite the backlash, the initial group of South African arrivals was received by U.S. officials at Dulles International Airport, with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau present to welcome them. Reports indicate that the refugees were provided with initial housing support and resettlement services as they begin new lives in the U.S.
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