JOHANNESBURG - The South African government on Friday expressed dismay over the US refugee program, describing it as "factually inaccurate" and "deeply flawed".

The remarks came after the United States announced on Thursday that it would be taking in 7,500 refugees, mainly white South Africans who are allegedly victims of a "genocide."

"The claim of a 'white genocide' in South Africa is widely discredited and unsupported by reliable evidence. This is further evidenced by the courageous and patriotic open letter from prominent members of the Afrikaner community themselves, who have publicly rejected this very narrative," according to a statement issued by South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

DIRCO underscored that there's a difference between voluntary migration and moving to another country as a refugee.

"Therefore, a program designed to facilitate their immigration and resettlement as refugees is fundamentally flawed. The limited uptake of this offer by South Africans is a telling indicator of this reality," said the statement.

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The statement noted that the South African Constitution guarantees the right of any citizen to emigrate through legal channels.

"We must, however, draw a critical distinction between voluntary migration and refugee asylum. Conflating the two is a serious mischaracterization that carries significant legal consequences for individuals and undermines international protection systems," said the statement.

DIRCO further stressed that while it valued its relations with the US government and prioritized collaborating on issues of mutual concern through dialogue and a shared respect for international law and national sovereignty, it rejected any misrepresentation of South Africa's situation.