Johannesburg — A DIPLOMATIC storm is brewing between Pretoria and Ottawa, after the Canadian government's decision to grant a South African citizen refugee status.

Brandon Huntley, from Mowbray in Cape Town, reportedly travelled to Canada on a six-month work permit in 2004 and then returned to Canada in 2005, living there illegally until he made a refugee claim in April last year . He was reportedly granted refugee status on grounds the South African government could not, or would not, protect him from persecution. He claimed that he had been attacked, and called a "white dog" or "settler" by black South Africans.

"There's a hatred of what we did to them and it's all about the colour of your skin," Huntley reportedly said.

The claims have caused an uproar in SA, with several government departments expressing outrage.

The Department of International Relations and Co-operation said yesterday that the government was "insulted" by the allegations.

"Our name has been maligned internationally. SA and Canada enjoy very sound political and diplomatic relations. Because of that, we would have expected the Canadian government to bring the matter to our attention," said Nomfanelo Kota, a departmental spokeswoman.

She said the government would raise the matter with the Canadian government, but would not challenge Huntley's refugee status.

"This is a first time this has happened with Canada. We have to raise it diplomatically but we are also of the view that South Africans can live wherever they want. We cannot force Huntley to come home," Kota said.

The Department of Home Affairs said the government was "disgusted" by what had transpired.

"It would have been courteous for the Canadian government to allow the South African government to respond to the allegations," home affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said.

The African National Congress (ANC) said the Canadian government's decision was "sensationalist", "alarming" and a move that would only "perpetuate racism".

"There are no doubts about the government's commitment to fight crime in the country. During his 2009 state of the nation address, President Jacob Zuma made it clear that government would -- with the support of all organs of civil society -- move with speed in addressing crime," the ANC said in a statement.

The South African Institute of Race Relations said Huntley's claims were "largely without foundation".

"The institute notes the claim that white South Africans are specifically targeted by violent criminals... the institute found no evidence that there is a general pattern of racial attacks... Rather while SA is a very violent society, the vast majority of victims of crime are black," the institute said.

The Freedom Front Plus's Pieter Groenewald said Huntley's acquisition of asylum status should be seen as a call for help by victims of crime . "It places a great responsibility on the government to change it, or else there will be more such cases," he said.

The Canadian high commission in Pretoria could not be reached for comment. With Sapa