South Africa’s history has been shaped by Dutch colonization beginning in the 1600s and later by British rule. As European settlement expanded, Indigenous communities were displaced from their land and many people were enslaved. In 1948, the government formally established apartheid—a system of laws that enforced racial segregation and discrimination. Although apartheid officially ended in 1994, its effects continue to shape South African society today. 

Since the end of apartheid, South Africa has implemented policies aimed at addressing historical racial inequities and expanding opportunities for populations that were disadvantaged and discriminated against under apartheid. In recent years, some Afrikaners, an ethnic group descended primarily from Dutch settlers in South Africa, have expressed concerns about discrimination, safety, and economic opportunities. Beginning in 2025, the United States admitted Afrikaners through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. As of August 2026, more than 10,000 Afrikaners were resettled in the United States. 

Additional resources for providers supporting Afrikaner children and youth are below.