Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says the departure of 49 white Afrikaners for resettlement in the US does not pose a risk to South Africa’s security and sovereignty.

The group’s departure comes as US President Donald Trump accuses South Africa of committing genocide against the Afrikaners.

South Africa has strongly denied the accusation.

Answering oral questions in the National Council of Provinces yesterday, Ntshavheni said: “I’m sure members will be tempted to say that the 49 people who moved from being citizens to become refugees are a threat to national sovereignty. It’s not a threat to national sovereignty. It’s not a threat to national unity.”

“We must continue to applaud the Afrikaner and white community that have said, not in our name, there is no genocide of white people in South Africa,” added Ntshavheni.

VIDEO | Afrikaner exodus to the US not a security threat: