A viral TikTok video posted by a refugee resettlement manager in the United States has sparked widespread debate in South Africa, where citizens are questioning the living conditions awaiting a group of Afrikaner refugees who recently arrived in the US.

The video, uploaded by a representative of Lifting Hands International—a Utah-based NGO that supports refugee resettlement—shows a modest but fully-furnished home intended for newly arrived refugees. The footage includes details such as basic furniture, kitchen essentials, and toys and books for children.

While the home featured in the video is not directly linked to the group of 49 Afrikaner refugees who landed in Alabama, many South Africans took to social media to speculate that similar accommodations may be offered to them.

“This looks… sad,” TikTok user Gif Rancini commented. “Each one of those items is easily available in SA, probably for a lower cost too. The great heist of 2025 was not of a presidency, but of people from another country.”

The arrival of the Afrikaner refugees—believed to be among the first such groupings to be granted refugee status in the US—has generated intense discussion across South Africa. Questions have emerged not only about their eligibility for refugee status, but also about the level of comfort and support they may receive from the American government and private organisations.