Charl Kleinhaus: Afrikaner 'refugee' in the US mingled with Jacob Zuma and headed mining company
However, there may be cracks in his story as pictures have emerged of Kleinhaus rubbing shoulders with one of the most powerful people in the country, former president Jacob Zuma. It is unclear what the photo op with the uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK Party) leader was about but, the online rumour mill is spinning.
Citizen sleuths dug into the refugee's past to uncover a life of wealth and comfort which contradicts Kleinhaus's claims.
"I had to leave a five-bedroom house which I will lose now because I'm not going to pay for it. I also left my car behind, my dogs, and my mother. I didn't come here for fun. But my children are safe. If you're white, you're wrong in South Africa," Kleinhaus told BBC.
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The South African
3 hours ago
- The South African
'Good life': Afrikaner 'refugee' shares update after US move
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IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Ramaphosa remains hopeful in US tariff negotiations
President Cyril Ramaphosa is still hopeful that South Africa can find a way out of the US tariffs within the next seven days. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed hope that his administration will still be able to find a way out of the 30% tariffs that US President Donald Trump implemented on Friday, but to be effective within the next seven days from the deadline. In case South Africa fails to convince Trump, the Presidency said in a statement released on Friday that the government was finalising a package to support local companies affected by the tariffs. 'The package consists of a number of measures to assist companies, producers, and workers affected by the tariffs on SA exports to the US,' read the statement. Ramaphosa's office will announce the details of the measures in due course. The office said, according to Trump's Executive Order published late this week, the products affected by the tariffs when exported to the US market include copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, lumber articles, certain critical minerals, stainless steel scrap, and energy products. Addressing the media after the inauguration of Firoz Cachalia as the acting police minister on Friday, Ramaphosa said the seven days were the window period for the continuation of the engagements with the US. He stated that South Africa was not the worst affected among many countries by Trump's tariffs, although some countries fared slightly better. He said his government was in the process of holding discussions with the United States, as some local companies were dealing with the US customers. 'We export vehicles, steel, aluminum, and citrus, so we have to engage with them and find a way to reach a settlement. So, within the window that is still open, we are hoping that we will find a way to settle this matter. 'So intensive negotiations are under way,' said Ramaphosa. After his private meeting with Trump at the White House on May 21, Ramaphosa expressed hope that he had mended the relationship. The visit was prompted by allegations that South Africa was mistreating its Afrikaner citizens and that it was in support of US enemies. However, it became clear this week that Trump was still hostile when he told journalists that he thought he would send someone to represent him in the G20 Summit to be held in Johannesburg in November because he had problems with South Africa's 'very, very bad policies, where lots of people are being killed'. As the country was still counting days before the tariff deadline, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen announced that the country was swiftly expanding its global trade partnerships as a strategy to mitigate the impact of the US tariffs on its exports. He called on the country not to waste time by being overly reliant on the US market. Steenhuisen said the country was already strengthening its trade alliances with the likes of Chile, Peru, and New Zealand 'to jointly lobby for fair and stable trade treatment of fresh produce' through the Southern Hemisphere Association of Fresh Fruit Exporters. He also said the state had finalised new phytosanitary protocols for the export of avocados to China, table grapes to Vietnam and the Philippines, and maize to India. Ramaphosa's administration said during its engagements with the US, it submitted a Framework Deal to enhance mutually beneficial trade and investment relations between the two countries. Ramaphosa was still optimistic that all channels of communication with Trump would remain open. 'Our negotiators are ready pending an invitation from the US. South Africa and the US trade relations are complementary in nature, and South African exports do not pose a threat to US industry,' read the statement. The government was using its diplomatic channels with the US to safeguard its national interests for ensuring that companies keep producing high-quality products destined for the world, to prevent job losses. The latest Executive Order stated that products that were already on their way to the US via vessels before 12h01 am, Eastern Daylight Time, seven days after Friday, and entered for consumption, or withdrawn from a warehouse for consumption, before 12h01am Eastern Daylight Time on October 5, 2025, will not be subject to the tariffs. In a joint statement issued on Friday, MPs DA MPs Toby Chance and Ryan Smith blamed Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau and International Relations and Cooperation's Ronald Lamola for failing to secure a trade deal with the US. 'An executive order from the White House last night makes clear that US-imposed tariffs are now a certainty, to be levied on South African goods and produce from 07 August 2025, due to the negligence and ineptitude of two ANC ministers and their departments. 'Both the departments of Trade, Industry & Competition (DTIC), and International Relations & Cooperation should hang their heads in profound shame today,' said the MPs. On July 29, the DTIC said the government was not going to retaliate against the tariffs, but was preparing itself for any scenario. 'We have put our best foot forward, bringing together the subject specialists within our ranks who have dug deep to ensure that our country is adequately prepared for a number of potential scenarios. We have planned for these scenarios and have not sat idly. 'We are working with other government departments on a response plan, which includes a support desk within the DTIC. Our response package also focuses on demand-side interventions in the impacted industries,' read the DTIC statement.
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- TimesLIVE
KZN premier considering responses from health and education MECs over fraud and corruption allegations
She is also alleged to have interfered with media freedom by pressing for the dismissal of a radio presenter critical of undocumented migrants accessing state health care. Hlomuka is faced with allegations of political interference and personal enrichment in the controversial R2.9bn national schools nutrition programme tender scandal. He is alleged to have interfered with the tender processes to benefit his allies in the ANC and has since been directly linked after it emerged a company registered to him in 2015 was among the beneficiaries of the tender issued by his department. The two officials have denied any wrongdoing, claiming they had severed ties with the companies long before the dealings and the positions they've had in government had no influence in procurement processes. Simelane said she resigned from her family business in 2004, which was four years before it received the Ithala loan. At the time, she was a junior official in government with no influence on Ithala's funding decisions. She said funding to her family business predated her tenure as committee chair. Hlomuka acknowledged the implicated company was registered by him when he was not part of government and claimed he had relinquished his stake well before taking office and he is not aware of its activities. Opposition parties in the legislature, the MK Party and the EFF, called on Ntuli to remove the two MECs from the provincial cabinet. The two parties repeated the calls during budget speech presentations by Simelane and Hlomuka on Tuesday, going as far as stating the ANC should apply its 'step-aside' rule until they are cleared. The premier's office said the two submissions are undergoing careful review and the process would adhere to the constitutional principles of fairness and administrative justice. Ntuli's spokesperson Bongani Gina said: 'The premier has reiterated his commitment to handling the matter with the utmost integrity, transparency and accountability. Further communication will be issued on conclusion of the review process as the premier's undertaking to transparency and good governance.'
