The South African government is extremely concerned about an international disinformation campaign aimed at distorting perceptions of the country, the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation said.
"It is of great concern that the foundational premise of this order lacks factual accuracy and fails to recognize South Africa’s profound and painful history of colonialism and apartheid," the South African Foreign Ministry stated.
The ministry found it ironic that the executive order provided refugee status in the US for an economically privileged group from South Africa, while vulnerable people in the US from other parts of the world were being deported and denied asylum despite facing real hardship.
The South African Foreign Ministry stressed that Pretoria remains committed to finding diplomatic solutions to any misunderstandings or disputes.