Peter Dutton looks to help white South African farmers

Australia is investigating what visas can be offered to white South African farmers who are facing violence and land seizures at home.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton believes the farmers deserve ‘special attention’ and need help from a ‘civilised country’ like Australia.

‘If you look at the footage and read the stories, you hear the accounts, it’s a horrific circumstance they face,’ Mr Dutton told the Daily Telegraph on Wednesday.

Australia is investigating what visas can be offered to white South African farmers who are facing violence and land seizures at home (stock image)

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton (pictured) believes the farmers deserve ‘special attention’ and need help from a ‘civilised country’ like Australia

‘We have the potential to help some of these people that are being persecuted.’

The South African parliament recently passed a motion which may lead to white farmers having their land seized and given to black owners without compensation. 

‘We must ensure that we restore the dignity of our people without compensating the criminals who stole our land,’ Economic Freedom Fighters party leader Julius Malema said, The Independent reported.

Confiscating the land could potentially lead to food shortages and an economic crisis similar to Zimbabwe. 

With an uncertain farming future and heavy drought, white South African farmers are already being pushed out of the industry.

Mr Dutton has directed the Home Affairs department to explore whether the farmers can be accepted into Australia through refugee, humanitarian or other visas, including the in-country persecution visa category.

‘I do think on the information that I’ve seen, people do need help, and they need help from a civilised country like ours,’ Mr Dutton said.

The minister said it was clear the farmers in question wanted to work hard and contribute to countries like Australia.

The South African parliament recently passed a motion which may lead to white farmers having their land seized and given to black owners without compensation (stock image)

Confiscating the land could potentially lead to food shortages and an economic crisis similar to Zimbabwe (stock image)

However people have slammed the minister for his ‘racist’ decision to support white South Africans instead of those on Manus Island (pictured)

‘We want people who want to come here, abide by our laws, integrate into our society, work hard, not lead a life on welfare,’ he said.

‘And I think these people deserve special attention and we’re certainly applying that special attention now.’

Mr Dutton suggested an announcement could be made soon.

‘We’re just looking at the moment at what might be feasible and hopefully we’ll make an announcement in due course,’ he said. 

‘So Peter Dutton considers white South Africans to have suffered ‘horrific circumstances’, but the refugees, including Rohingya refugees, who languished for years in the Manus Island detention centre did not. Disgraceful,’ one person wrote online (pictured)

‘You didn’t really care about those on boats who came here …. only sporting different skin colour,’ another shared (pictured)

‘Peter Dutton proving once again that whit supremacy has no subtlety,’ one wrote (pictured)

Many people appeared angered by Mr Dutton’s comments on social media with some people calling him ‘racist’ 

‘It’s very interesting that Peter Dutton talk about the white South African deserve special attention no one cares about your statements …,’ another person shared (pictured)

However, people have slammed Mr Dutton for his decision to want to help white South Africans but not the refugees on Manus Island.

‘So Peter Dutton considers white South Africans to have suffered ‘horrific circumstances’, but the refugees, including Rohingya refugees, who languished for years in the Manus Island detention centre did not. Disgraceful,’ one person wrote online. 

‘You didn’t really care about those on boats who came here citing similar persecution only sporting different skin colour. Now all of a sudden you’re a humanitarian? Just stop,’ another said. 

‘It’s very interesting that Peter Dutton talks about the white South African deserve special attention no one care about your statements while you have such a barbaric policy on Manus and Nauru. Australia considers fast-track visas for white South African farmers,’ someone else shared. 

‘We want people who want to come here, abide by our laws, integrate into our society, work hard, not lead a life on welfare,’ Mr Dutton said (stock image of Manus Island detention centre)

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk