US enlists ‘Amerikaners’ group in refugee scheme for white South Africans

A group called Amerikaners, set up by white South Africans hoping to take up US President Donald Trump’s offer of resettlement, has been enlisted by his administration to help identify suitable applicants for the controversial programme.

Trump established the refugee programme in February for “Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination”, referring to an ethnic group descended mostly from Dutch settlers.

According to a statement posted on the website of the US embassy in South Africa on Monday, the Amerikaners group is now a “designated Department of State referral partner” for the programme.

The group will gather information from potential applicants to assess whether their case is eligible for referral, and refer cases to the State Department for access to the US Refugee Admissions Program, the statement said.

South Africa’s government strongly opposes the programme, saying allegations of discrimination are unfounded and that members of the white