South Africa starts a soul-searching 'national dialogue' about poverty, inequality and other issues
The talks, initiated by President Cyril Ramaphosa after calls from civil society, are expected to include most political parties, civic groups and members of the public.
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Business Insider
9 hours ago
- Business Insider
Trump refugee plan prioritises white South Africans while others face stricter US entry rules
The Trump administration is weighing a refugee admissions cap of 40,000 for the coming fiscal year, with 30,000 spaces reserved for Afrikaners, a Dutch-descended minority in South Africa, according to U.S. officials and internal government communications reviewed by Reuters. The Trump administration is considering setting a refugee admissions cap of 40,000 for the upcoming fiscal year This proposal which focuses on resettling Afrikaners from South Africa signifies a shift in U.S. refugee policy Analysts express concern that this policy adjustment may imply racial bias and overlook the pressing needs of other refugees globally. The plan marks a sharp departure from decades of U.S. refugee policy, which traditionally had bipartisan support and prioritised vulnerable groups fleeing war, persecution, and famine. By contrast, the Trump initiative focuses heavily on resettling white South Africans, a group the president has argued faces 'racial discrimination and violence' - claims the South African government has repeatedly rejected. Angie Salazar, a top refugee program official in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), told state-level refugee workers that she expected the cap to be 40,000, according to a summary of an August 1 meeting reviewed by Reuters. Two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that of this number, about 30,000 slots would be devoted to Afrikaners. A separate source familiar with the discussions said a cap as low as 12,000 had also been floated. In addition to Afrikaners, the administration is weighing limited resettlement for Afghans who aided U.S. forces in the Middle-East conflicts and possibly Ukrainians, leaving only a small number of slots unallocated for other nationalities. A break with precedent The 40,000-person cap represents a sharp drop from the 100,000 refugees admitted under President Joe Biden in 2024, with the highest number of entrants coming from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (18,145). During the Obama era, the U.S. admitted roughly 2,500–3,500 refugees annually from the DRC and 3,000–4,500 from Sudan/South Sudan, according to the U.S. Refugee Council. However, the proposed cap is still higher than the record-low 15,000 ceiling set by Trump in fiscal year 2021 before leaving office. The current plan prioritizes 30,000 of these spaces for Afrikaners, a white minority group from South Africa, marking a significant shift in U.S. refugee policy. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly defended the process, insisting that 'no decisions were final' until Trump decides in October. 'President Trump has a humanitarian heart, which is why he has welcomed these courageous individuals to the United States,' Kelly said. 'Refugee admission caps will be determined next month, and any numbers discussed at this point are pure speculation.' She added. So far, refugee resettlement in the US has been limited. The first group of 59 South Africans arrived in May, with only 34 more admitted as of early August, according to a White House official. Concerns of racial bias Analysts warn that the heavy allocation for Afrikaners could reinforce perceptions of racial bias in U.S. refugee policy, especially given that 37 million people worldwide are currently displaced and that African nations host some of the largest refugee populations globally. Gaza freeze and visa costs deepen access gap The refugee plan comes alongside a U.S. decision to suspend all visitor visas for Gazans, a measure that aid agencies say will block patients in urgent need of medical evacuation. At the same time, Washington has introduced a controversial $250 visa integrity fee that applies to most African nations but not to European or Asian countries included in the Visa Waiver Program. Tourism and business leaders across Africa have warned that the new fee risks shutting out thousands of students, entrepreneurs, and travellers, while deepening perceptions of unfair treatment. Africa sidelined Taken together, the refugee allocation, the Gaza visa freeze, and the new visa surcharge point to a widening gap in U.S.–Africa engagement. While white South Africans may benefit from new resettlement pathways, millions of Black Africans remain effectively excluded, either by financial hurdles or by limited refugee quotas.
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business Insider
South African general's unapproved visit to Iran may signal complex US relations
The move, which did not receive government backing, has drawn sharp criticism from members of South Africa's governing coalition, who described the visit as ' reckless grandstanding.' The row comes as South Africa navigates tense relations with the US, which has taken exception to the country's ties with Iran, Russia, and its strong affiliation with BRICS. According to Iranian media outlet WANA News Agency, Iran's Chief of Staff, Major General Mousavi, condemned what he called the crimes of the Israeli regime in the region—particularly genocide in Gaza—and praised South Africa's decision to file and pursue a genocide case against Israel at the International Criminal Court. General Maphwanya noted that the two countries shared common goals and always stood ' alongside the oppressed and defenceless people of the world, ' according to the Iranian publication Tehran Times. He also criticised Israel over the ongoing war in Gaza, reiterating support for the Palestinian people and telling officials his visit ' carries a political message ' from Ramaphosa's administration as per The BBC The South African government, however, has denied authorising these comments. According to the South African Defence Department, the general's statement was 'unfortunate,' while the Foreign Affairs Ministry said they ' do not represent the government's official foreign policy stance.' President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, confirmed that the president was unaware of the trip and had not sanctioned it. ' The visit was ill-advised and, more so, the expectation is that the general should have been a lot more circumspect with the comments he makes,' Magwenya told reporters. The Democratic Alliance, a member of South Africa's governing coalition, called for General Maphwanya to be 'court-martialled.' The presidency also confirmed that President Ramaphosa intends to meet with the general to discuss the implications of what he called an 'ill-advised' trip. South Africa's waning U.S. relations South Africa's ties with Iran could likely be one of the issues that influenced President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs, even though they were officially justified by trade imbalances. Under Trump, US trade policy increasingly blended economic and geopolitical concerns, and Pretoria's growing engagement with Tehran through diplomatic and military discussions raised Washington's alarm. These interactions likely reinforced the perception that South Africa was aligning with a country at odds with key US strategic interests. While the visit has not yet directly altered bilateral relations, analysts warn that it could complicate South Africa's already delicate relationship with the United States, which has long expressed concerns over Pretoria's ties with Tehran and other contentious international partnerships. South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said in a statement that it had noted recent media reports on comments attributed to General Rudzani Maphwanya but stressed that the formulation and implementation of the country's foreign policy is the responsibility of the Presidency, supported by DIRCO. ' Consequently, any statements made by an individual or a department other than those mandated with foreign policy should not be misconstrued as the official position of the South African government. The remarks attributed to General Maphwanya, therefore, do not reflect the government's official foreign policy stance, ' it said.
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Business Insider
South Africa counters U.S. trade pressure with new trade deal with China
South Africa, long regarded as the continent's most advanced economy, is moving decisively to counter the fallout from Washington's latest tariff measures by turning to Beijing for new trade opportunities. South Africa is seeking new trade opportunities in China following recent US tariffs. A preliminary trade agreement with China focuses on the export of five types of stone fruit. This development signifies a strategic shift by South Africa to diversify its trade partnerships. The shift follows the United States' imposition of a 30% tariff on South African goods—a blow that has heightened the urgency for Pretoria to diversify its export destinations. Agriculture Minister, John Steenhuisen revealed this week that a new trade deal with China is close to completion, offering South Africa a valuable lifeline at a time of mounting trade tensions with its biggest Western partner. The agreement, which will initially cover the export of five varieties of stone fruit, is expected to open a lucrative channel into the Chinese market, one of the fastest-growing consumer bases in the world. The talks were facilitated during Steenhuisen's recent visit to Beijing alongside Deputy President Paul Mashatile. Speaking on his X page, Steenhuisen said, 'I can today share that after the last visit that I attended with the Deputy President in China, and our visit as the Agriculture Minister to the GACC, we were given the protocol for stone fruit.' He added that, 'The deal includes five types of stone fruit, which include plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots, and prunes—paving the way for stone fruit from South Africa to China.' By securing access to China's vast agricultural import market, the government aims not only to cushion the impact of US tariffs but also to strengthen South Africa's foothold in Asia's broader economic sphere. South Africa's pivot from the US amid Trump's tariff war This development marks a significant moment in South Africa's ongoing efforts to recalibrate its trade alliances, balancing long-standing relationships with the West against the rising economic pull of the East. For decades, Pretoria maintained strong commercial ties with the United States, leveraging preferential access through agreements such as AGOA to bolster its exports. However, President Donald Trump's decision to impose sweeping 30% tariffs on South African goods has accelerated the country's search for alternative markets, pushing it to engage more deeply with emerging economic powerhouses. South Africa's temperate climate and fertile valleys make it a major supplier of counter-seasonal fruit to the Northern Hemisphere. As the world's second-largest citrus exporter after Spain, South Africa also ships large volumes of apples, pears, grapes, and growing amounts of stonefruit, avocados, and blueberries. In 2024, fresh fruit exports rose 2.1% to 4.2mn tonnes, continuing a decade-long growth trend of 3.7% annually. By edging closer to a comprehensive trade agreement with China, South Africa is positioning itself to tap into one of the world's largest and fastest-growing consumer markets. The draft protocol, which initially covers the export of five varieties of stone fruit, could serve as a springboard for broader agricultural and industrial trade, potentially expanding into minerals, manufactured goods, and value-added products.
