South African government rejects Peter Dutton’s push to look at bringing white South African farmers to Australia

SOUTH Africa has slapped down Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton’s potential offer to bring persecuted white farmers to Australia on humanitarian visas.

SOUTH Africa has slapped down Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton’s potential offer to bring persecuted white farmers to Australia on humanitarian visas.

The South African Foreign Ministry has responded angrily to the Turnbull Government Minister’s proposal, saying there was no threat to white farmers in its country.

It also rebuked the Australian government for not expressing its concerns through diplomatic channels first.

Mr Dutton revealed on Miranda Devine’s radio program yesterday that he had ordered his department to look at bringing persecuted white South African farmers to Australia on humanitarian visas after News Corp Australia exposed how they were facing cruelty, torture and murder.

“If you look at the footage, you hear the stories and you read the accounts, it’s a horrific circumstance that they face,” Mr Dutton said.

“I’ve asked my department to look at options and ways in which we can provide some assistance because I do think on the information I’ve seen people do need help, and they need help from a civilised country like ours.

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Berdus Henrico 39, was attacked by two armed men, before a third man came in to his remote farmhouse with a handgun and shot him three times. He is lucky to be alive. Picture: Gary Ramage

“More importantly, the people we’re talking about want to work hard, they want to contribute to a country like Australia … I think these people deserve special attention and we’re applying that special attention now.”

The South African Foreign Ministry said overnight: “That threat does not exist.”

“There is no reason for any government in the world to suspect that a section of South Africans is under danger from their own democratically elected government,” the ministry said.

“We regret that the Australian government chose not to use the available diplomatic channels available for them to raise concerns or to seek clarification.”

Mr Dutton indicated farmers could likely apply under an “in-country persecution” visa category, or under the refugee-humanitarian visa program whereby the department took referrals from relatives in Australia, anxious about their loved ones in South Africa.

“We need to look at individual cases and our department is working through that now, speaking to our experts in the region as well, and having a look at some of the ways we might be able to have a look at some of these horrific cases.”

Erns Hattingh, who moved to Australia a year ago in order to raise his family away from the violence, said he was stunned.

Squad patrols have increased in an attempt to provide security and deter criminal elements from attacking, torturing and killing white residents. Picture: Gary Ramage

Afriforum mobile squads patrol local areas outside of Pretoria in South Africa. Picture: Gary Ramage

“I think it’s fantastic news and I’m grateful the Australian government has taken note of the plight of the South African farmers,” he said. Mr Hattingh has parents in South Africa who recently moved off their farm, fearing attack.

Estelle Nieuwenhuys 51, was inside a game park in the Limpopo Province. Picture: Gary Ramage

News Corp documented numerous cases of rape, murder and torture, which is on the increase after new South African president Cyril Ramaphosa announced white-owned land would be seized by the government without compensation.

There are more than 200,000 South African-born people living in Australia, deeply worried about the growing violence.