Mel Viljoen – who recently returned to South Africa from her arrest and detention in a US ICE facility – has sent a warning to South Africans, primarily Afrikaners, who plan to embark on the refugee resettlement programme.
The Real Housewives star and her husband, Peet, were arrested for shoplifting and detained for overstaying a tourist visa – claims they both deny.
Mel has since appealed to South Africans, particularly black people, to forgive the couple for their previous racist remarks.
MEL VILJOEN WARNS AFRIKANER REFUGEES
Speaking on Jacaranda FM, Mel Viljoen was asked about her views on the US refugee resettlement programme, geared at white Afrikaner South Africans who are being racially “persecuted” in the country.
Mel responded with a warning, urging applicants not to have expectations about living in the US.
She told Martin Bester, “Don’t make any permanent decisions, don’t sell everything here. Experience another place as a resident, not as a tourist. The grass is not greener on the other side. It’s just another country with more people”.
Mel added that she had been in contact with several refugees who had arrived in the US, who had complained about feeling “lonely” and “abandoned”.
She continued: “It sounds like Donald Trump is helping us, but he really isn’t. There’s no one on the other side waiting for you with open arms to help you and guide you.
Images via Instagram: @melviljoensa
“They [Authorities] put them [refugees] into the most horrific destinations where there is no Starbucks. They are ultimately hoping to get more farmers who can farm their land”.
Mel claimed that the US continued to spread misinformation about South Africa to push its own agenda.
“It is a strategy that Americans do really well is to create narratives. They are extremely divided. Farmer murders are crime-based…they are not killed based on their skin colour.”
NO LOVE FOR TRUMP
Peet and Mel Viljoen have done a complete turnaround about living in the US and their support of President Donald Trump.
In a viral video posted on her social media platforms, Mel claimed that there was a “white genocide” in South Africa and that “Trump was right” about his claims of “racial persecution” in South Africa.
She has since clarified that her racist views were based on her own perspective, and apologised for her “generalised” opinions.
Mel and Peet have also renounced their support of Trump, calling out ICE detention centres for their “horrific infringement of human rights”.
She also added that “South Africa is not that bad”, citing her love for Woolworths and forgiving people.
FARMERS BEING POACHED AS REFUGEES?
Mel Viljoen’s views on the US exploiting Afrikaner farmers were previously made by former DA member Roman Cabanac.
In a tweet that went viral last month, he posted: “I am going to make many enemies here, but the Afrikaner refugee program is not good for the Afrikaners. It’s good for America. You won’t have Afrikaners in America, you will have Americans with Afrikaner heritage”.
He added: “The slow ethnocide of Afrikaners from South Africa only suits the Americans, no one else”
