Top 10 stories of the day: Afrikaners head to US
Here's your daily news update for Friday, 9 May 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories.
In the news today, United States President Donald Trump's administration is set to bring the first group of white South Africans or Afrikaners it has classified as refugees to the US early next week.
Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal police say they are intensifying efforts to identify individuals attempting to incite unrest ahead of the highly anticipated Soweto Derby in Durban this Saturday.
Furthermore, the South African National Defence Force has finally explained how five alleged car thieves ended up topless and lying on the ground defenceless against several officers last weekend.
Weather tomorrow: 10 May 2025
Yellow level 4 and 2 warnings were issued for sea and wind dangers, with fire threats in the Western and Eastern Cape and cold, wet, and windy conditions also forecast in parts of the country. Full weather forecast here.
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First SA white Afrikaner refugees set to arrive in US next week
United States (US) President Donald Trump's administration is set to bring the first group of white South Africans or Afrikaners it has classified as refugees to the US early next week.
In March, Trump set up a programme called 'Mission South Africa' offering an expedited pathway to US citizenship for some South Africans, falsely claiming that the government was confiscating their land and calling their treatment in the country 'terrible.'
White South African gathered outside the United States of America Embassy in Pretoria, 15 February 2025. Picture: Nigel Sibanda / The Citizen
Within weeks of announcing that Afrikaners would be eligible for refugee status, the administration deployed teams to Pretoria to screen white South Africans for consideration, according to the documents obtained by The New York Times.
The teams studied more than 8,000 requests from people expressing interest in becoming refugees, and the U.S. government identified 100 Afrikaners who potentially could be approved.
CONTINUE READING: First SA white Afrikaner refugees set to arrive in US next week
KZN police warn those 'hellbent on creating chaos' at Soweto derby
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) police say they are intensifying efforts to identify individuals attempting to incite unrest ahead of the highly anticipated Soweto Derby in Durban this Saturday.
Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs are set to face off in the Nedbank Cup final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Members of the South African Police Service (Saps) at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on 28 October 2022. Picture: Gallo Images / Darren Stewart
While the match is a sold-out affair, it has been overshadowed by issues with the ticketing system that led to an overselling of tickets.
As a result, more than 10 000 fans were refunded, sparking frustration among supporters. Reports have since emerged of fans threatening to force their way into the stadium, which officially holds around 55 000 spectators.
CONTINUE READING: KZN police warn those 'hellbent on creating chaos' at Soweto derby
How topless car thieves met their match against SANDF officer in pyjamas and slippers
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has finally explained how five alleged car thieves ended up topless and lying on the ground defenceless against several officers last weekend.
According to the SANDF, the men from Mamelodi met their embarrassing fate on Sunday after allegedly stealing a vehicle near the Tek Base, a military facility in Tshwane.
Picture: @ramalokot/ X
They were caught using the vicinity of Tek Base as a sanctuary for their illegal operations.
CONTINUE READING: How topless car thieves met their match against SANDF officer in pyjamas and slippers
Online gambling and betting advertising is non-compliant with Gambling Act — minister
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, has confirmed in parliament that the advertising for online gambling and betting does not comply with the National Gambling Act, but emphasised that a crack-down is coming.
He was responding to a question from Makashule Gana, an MP for Rise Mzansi, whether the recent advertising and marketing campaigns of gambling and betting companies comply with the National Gambling Act and related regulations and policies.
Picture: iStock
Tau said in his reply that the National Gambling Board reviewed recent gambling and betting advertising campaigns to see if they comply with the National Gambling Act and National Gambling Regulations.
CONTINUE READING: Online gambling and betting advertising is non-compliant with Gambling Act — minister
The driver's licence machine is fixed, but another problem remains
There is some good news for thousands of South African motorists across the country who are currently driving with expired licences as the Department of Transport (DoT) confirms that the driving license card printing machine has been fixed and operations have resumed.
South Africa's only driver's licence card printer has been plagued by breakdowns.
Thousands of motorists across the country are currently driving with expired licences. Image: File / Pretoria Rekord
The machine has been out of order since January, creating a massive backlog in driver's licences. Few to no cards have been issued since the start of the year.
It has led to another problem of a backlog of 747 748 outstanding cards to be printed.
CONTINUE READING: The driver's licence machine is fixed, but another problem remains
Here are five more stories of the day:
Yesterday's News recap
READ HERE: Top 10 stories of the day: Robert Prevost elected Pope Leo | Body of missing journalist found | Scotts Maphuma fiasco
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