South Africans Are Referring To The Afrikaner ‘Refugees’ As “Die Groot Tsek”

[Image: StockCake]

South Africans of all colours are having a ball taking the piss with those 54 ‘refugees’ who fled the horrors of Pretoria on Monday, and it’s just another reminder why the whole thing is so rediculous.

While we debate the legitimacy of a khaki-clad refugee, satirical takes and fiery opinions on what has now been dubbed “Die Groot Tsek of 2025” are already popping up on social media.

At the centre of the drama, in case you’ve been on a silent retreat the last few days, is the bizarre diplomatic move to allow a fringe group of Afrikaners refugee status in America. In the now-viral spectacle, the group arrived in America via private plane – promptly nicknamed AirWors One – toting more luggage than any group of refugees we’ve ever seen.

President Ramaphosa, currently attempting to temper strained relations with the US, told reporters that he had spoken to former U.S. President Donald Trump, saying: “We think that the American government has got the wrong end of the stick here, but we’ll continue talking to them.”

General opinion seems to be that the group in question are a “fringe minority” and did not meet the criteria of legitimate refugees. Certainly, they are not representative of the broader Afrikaner community.

The situation has drawn widespread ridicule across South Africa. As Daily Maverick journalist Richard Poplak wrote, “It wasn’t your typical refugee exodus.” Indeed, the optics of fleeing genocide typically don’t include boarding a private plane and arriving with suitcases packed for a safari rather than survival.

In true South African fashion, the national response has been a blend of mockery and memes. TikTok and Facebook comment sections have also become battlegrounds of wit and political satire, with some users dubbing the affair a “reverse colonisation with snacks.”

Though funny on the surface, the situation has stirred conversations about race, privilege, and international perception as the asylum stunt undermines real refugee crises happening elsewhere in Africa and the rest of the world.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country, including 99% of Afrikaners who have no intention of running away, continues to find comic relief in an otherwise perplexing political sitcom.

#TheGreatTsek is not off to a good start. The arrival of the #Voetsekkers in the USA has divided the American people amongst racial lines even further. Oh America, now you’ll understand what South Africans have to deal with on the daily. #Trump #refugees #EpiscopalChurch https://t.co/L8vDjeiiNs

— oShane Hermanus (@complitwisted) May 13, 2025