South African authorities have arrested seven Kenyan nationals and moved to deport them for allegedly working without proper authorisation on a US government programme related to applications by white Afrikaners seeking refugee status, the government said on Wednesday.
The Department of Home Affairs said the individuals were found working at a processing centre in Johannesburg despite entering the country on tourist visas, a violation of South Africa’s immigration rules.
The programme stems from a move by the administration of US President Donald Trump, which in May offered refugee status to members of the Afrikaner community, claiming they face discrimination and violence. The South African government has strongly rejected these claims.
According to officials, the United States had engaged Kenyans affiliated with a Kenya-based non-governmental organisation to assist with fast-tracking applications for resettlement under the initiative.
During a raid on Tuesday, authorities discovered the seven Kenyans carrying out work activities without the required permits. They were arrested, issued deportation orders and will be barred from re-entering South Africa for five years, the department said.
The operation followed intelligence reports indicating that Kenyan nationals had recently arrived on tourist visas and were illegally employed at a centre handling applications for what authorities described as “so-called refugees”.
Following the US offer, an initial group of around 50 Afrikaners were flown to the United States on a chartered flight in May, with smaller numbers reportedly travelling later on commercial flights.
Relations between Pretoria and Washington have deteriorated sharply since Trump returned to office, with disputes over policy, the expulsion of South Africa’s ambassador earlier this year and the imposition of steep trade tariffs.
The Home Affairs Department said no US officials were arrested during the raid, which did not take place at a diplomatic facility. It added that no applicants were mistreated and that South African authorities had contacted both US and Kenyan officials regarding the matter.
The US administration has repeatedly alleged that white Afrikaners have faced persecution since the end of minority rule in 1994, citing farm attacks and policies requiring greater Black participation in business. South Africa has dismissed the allegations, noting that violent crime disproportionately affects Black citizens and that empowerment policies are aimed at addressing deep inequalities rooted in apartheid.