Thousands of white South Africans living abroad are showing interest in returning to South Africa, following a change in citizenship laws by the government. According to Reuters, at least 12,000 people have checked their citizenship status as they prepare for a possible permanent return.
The increase comes after the government, led by Cyril Ramaphosa, reversed a 1995 law in November 2025. That earlier law had caused some South Africans to lose their citizenship after living abroad. Since the reversal, about 1,000 people have already reclaimed their nationality and asked to move back to the country.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump previously claimed that white South Africans were facing discrimination because of laws related to land ownership and employment. He even offered a refugee deal for white South Africans wanting to relocate to the United States, but only about 3,500 people accepted the offer, while many others are choosing to return to South Africa instead.
Relocation agencies report a large increase in enquiries from people wanting to move back. One agency said requests rose 70% in the last six months, while another reported a 30% increase since 2024.
Many returnees say their decision is based on personal and practical reasons, such as wanting to be closer to family, the lower cost of living, the ability to work remotely, and strong emotional ties to their homeland. Some also mentioned political tensions abroad as a factor.
A large number of these returnees are Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch settlers who have lived in South Africa for generations.
Currently, white South Africans make up about 7% of the population of the country’s 63 million people, yet they own around 70% of farmland. Economic differences also remain: unemployment among Black South Africans is about 35%, compared with 8% among white citizens, while the national unemployment average is just over 31%.
