The Department of Home Affairs has rubbished reports that US officials were arrested during a raid on a facility in Johannesburg that was busy processing so-called Afrikaner “refugees”.

The alleged arrests quickly drew a response from the US State Department, with a spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, calling for immediate clarification:

“The Trump Administration has consistently raised concerns about the treatment of Afrikaners in South Africa, including allegations of racial targeting, violence, and the failure of authorities to adequately protect certain communities. We are seeking immediate clarification from the South African government and expect full cooperation and accountability. We’ll have more to say once all the facts are confirmed, but the Trump Administration will always stand up for U.S. interests, U.S. personnel, and the rule of law. Interfering in our refugee operations is unacceptable.”

Several news outlets in the US reported overnight on the alleged arrests of American officials, but the Department clarified today that it had carried out a routine, lawful operation yesterday, 16 December, during which seven Kenyan nationals were in fact arrested.

In a statement, Minister Leon Schreiber said it had come to light that a number of Kenyans recently entered South Africa on tourist visas and had illegally taken up work at this centre.

This was even though earlier visa applications for Kenyan nationals to perform this work had been lawfully declined by the Department.

Schreiber says the Kenyans were in clear violation of their conditions of entry into the country.

“They were arrested and issued with deportation orders, and will be prohibited from entering South Africa again for a five-year period.”

The Minister says the operation was carried out according to the same procedures that has seen Home Affairs dramatically intensify deportations over the past 18 months, with the aim to put an end to the long-standing abuse of South Africa’s immigration and visa system.

He refuted the reports coming from US outlets vehemently:

“No US officials were arrested in the process, the operation was not conducted at a diplomatic site, and no members of the public or prospective “refugees” were harassed.”

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has now initiated formal diplomatic engagements with both the United States and Kenya to resolve this matter.