SA transport officials detail flight plan for aircraft carrying 49 Afrikaners relocating to US
JOHANNESBURG - South African transport officials have detailed the flight plan for an aircraft carrying 49 Afrikaners relocating to the United States (US) as part of Washington's refugee programme.
The private charter flight finally took off late Sunday night after a three-hour delay that kept Texas-based Omni Airways on the tarmac longer than expected.
The cause of the delay is unknown at this stage.
ALSO READ: Almost 50 white Afrikaners on board flight to US as part of resettlement programme
This is the first group of Afrikaners who have been admitted to the US under refugee status after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order allowing them to resettle amid a disinformation campaign about racial laws in South Africa.
The Department of Transport said there is limited leeway to allow for delays because a chartered flight has to follow a strict flight plan.
Department spokesperson Collen Msibi said the application for the use of a chartered plane is processed by the International Air Services Council.
He said these plans are made to ensure that there are no clashes in the use of airspace.
Despite the delay, the aircraft is believed to have kept to its planned approved route.
'It goes to Dakar, where they have to refuel. I think they are going to spend about an hour refuelling and then from Dakar then they head to Washington, Dallas airport in Washington DC, and thereafter, the flight proceeds to Texas.'
Msibi said the department has not received any other application for a similar process yet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Three renowned Cape Town eateries shine on the 2025 World's Best Restaurants list
La Colombe ranked 55th. Image: Facebook / La Colombe Cape Town continues to assert itself as a global culinary capital, with three of its most acclaimed restaurants earning coveted spots on the 2025 World's Best Restaurants list. These fine-dining establishments, known for their innovation, world-class talent, and spectacular settings, are showcasing the best of South African gastronomy on the world stage. La Colombe ranked 55th Making its sixth appearance on the list, La Colombe stands tall at number 55, reaffirming its status as a South African fine-dining icon. Nestled within the Silvermist organic wine estate at the top of Constantia Nek, the restaurant boasts panoramic views of the Constantia Valley, stretching all the way to the sea. La Colombe is the crown jewel of Scot Kirton's La Colombe Group, which includes some of South Africa's most celebrated restaurants. Under the direction of Chef James Gaag, the kitchen delivers a refined dining experience rooted in classic French technique, subtly infused with Asian influences. In 2024, La Colombe was ranked 49th globally and was named Best Restaurant in Africa, adding to its impressive string of accolades. FYN ranked 82nd Securing the 82nd spot, FYN returns to the list for the fifth time, further establishing its reputation as a cutting-edge culinary destination. Opened in 2018 by renowned chef Peter Tempelhoff, with Culinary Director Ashley Moss and Beverage Director Jennifer Hugé, FYN fuses Japanese precision with the rich flavours of South African ingredients. The restaurant offers a curated, seasonal tasting menu that highlights sustainability and storytelling, delivering an immersive dining journey. In 2023, FYN became the first stand-alone African restaurant to be inducted into the prestigious Relais and Châteaux association, a global hallmark of excellence in fine dining and luxury hospitality. Salsify at the Roundhouse ranked 88th A fresh addition to the global stage, Salsify at the Roundhouse debuts on the list at number 88. Located in the historic Roundhouse building above Camps Bay, the restaurant offers sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and Lion's Head. Led by Executive Chef Ryan Cole and Head Chef Nina du Toit, Salsify presents modern, seasonal tasting menus that draw inspiration from local, foraged ingredients, blending land and sea in every bite. Recognised locally, the restaurant earned three-star status at the Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards in both 2022 and 2023. IOL Lifestyle
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Is ‘Trump always chickens out' worth repeating?
President Donald Trump holds a chart on reciprocal tariffs during an event titled 'Make America Wealthy Again', at the White House in Washington, DC. Trump backed down days later. Pat Dennis Every day is 'TACO Tuesday' for Democrats this week. Ever since President Donald Trump angrily dismissed a reporter's question about the 'Trump always chickens out' trade theory - the market's bet that Trump will back off his trade bluster - it has become a nonstop meme, complete with a taco truck to taunt Republicans. I'm head of a progressive opposition research shop, so you might assume I'm celebrating this outbreak of trolling. You'd be wrong. Democrats need to drop it immediately. I understand that the claim that 'Trump always chickens out' on trade policy feels vindicating. To see his political allies on Wall Street call him weak and goad him into a Truth Social tantrum scratches a particular itch. But this attack enrages Trump only when it's coming from his own base - and when Democrats repeat it, they're helping him squirm his way out of a political disaster he has created for himself. Trump hasn't 'chickened out' on his tariffs. He is - at this very second - inflicting great harm on American workers, families and the entire U.S. economy. With Trump in charge, prices are up, small businesses are struggling, loan delinquencies are rising, and economic growth has slowed. Polling from Navigator last month showed that only 30 percent of Americans have a favorable view of Trump's tariffs, including an abysmal 20 percent of independent voters. But when the Democratic Party yells 'TACO,' Americans feel hope that these harmful tariffs are only a negotiation tactic, rather than the economic suicide mission they are. The entire conversation feeds into the decades-old, TV-fueled perception of Trump as a master businessman, just as Democrats are finally gaining traction with a more negative impression. The Working Class Project by American Bridge is listening to voters in 21 states across the country to understand why working-class Americans moved away from the Democratic Party. Here's what a male voter in North Carolina had to say about Trump's shifting tariffs: 'I know Canada kind of backed down, and I think that's what he's banking on. I don't think China will back down, but they will eventually reach an agreement. And it will create a bunch of jobs and industries if he's successful.' This response was typical among people we've talked to: Voters see the give-and-take of tariff news - especially Trump 'backing down' off tariffs to talk to other countries - as a sign of progress. Many mistakenly believe his policies have not gone into effect, even as the temporarily scaled-back tariffs are still at levels unseen since World War II. Yet Democrats are on TV, in newspapers and on social media boosting a message that's helpful for Trump. We must remind voters that Trump's tariffs aren't just empty social media posts or a game of global chess - they are real and harmful. Small businesses are laying off workers or shuttering doors. Experts are telling newlyweds to add up to 15 percent more to their wedding budgets. New parents are paying more for car seats and strollers. We desperately need new housing, but costs of construction materials are skyrocketing. The message should be relentless: Trump's trade policies are a failure, and Americans are suffering the consequences. He promised a manufacturing boom; Mack Truck cut hundreds of jobs in Pennsylvania. He promised to lower inflation, then told families that they should buy fewer Christmas presents for their kids if toys are too expensive now. He promised to strengthen small businesses; one small-business owner in Ohio said she's bracing for 'mass extinction of small businesses' as a result of these tariffs. In a world of political branding, it's tempting to hit Trump where he appears weakest - his inconsistency, his ego, his impulsiveness. But on trade, that strategy plays right into his strengths. The smarter path is to argue that Trump's trade policies are a disaster because he followed through. The party can't get complacent and hope the real-life tariffs will do all their messaging work for them, either. Despite four months of chaos, Republicans still retain a 10-point lead on the economy. Democrats need to stop talking about TACO and start hammering home the truth: Trump is making life more expensive for everyone, and he's not going to stop.
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Cyril Ramaphosa and Donald Trump to discuss trade relations at G7 Summit
President Cyril Ramaphosa and his US counterpart Donald Trump are set to meet, for the second time, at the G7 Summit expected to be held in Canada this weekend. Image: Supplied / GCIS President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to meet with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Canada this weekend. The meeting will focus on key issues, including the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and US-SA tariffs. Ramaphosa's meeting with Trump comes after South Africa submitted a revised framework proposal to the US, aiming to expand trade and investment relations between the two countries. The US imposed tariffs on South African imports in April, with a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs of 30% against South African exports. The tariffs were part of a broader set of 'liberation day' tariffs imposed by Trump on all US trading partners. However, they were later reduced to a base rate of 10%, with the expectation that countries would use the 90 days to propose solutions addressing the US's trade deficit concerns. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Ramaphosa's meeting with Trump will be his second in about three weeks, following their encounter at the White House last month. During their previous meeting, Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of the US's role in the G20 Summit and invited Trump to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg later this year. Trump agreed to attend, and Ramaphosa sees this as a positive development for bilateral relations. According to sources close to Ramaphosa, the meeting agenda will include discussions on AGOA, providing duty-free access to the US market for some African products. The agreement is set to expire in September, and South Africa is eager to see it renewed. Ramaphosa will also raise concerns about US-SA tariffs, urging the US not to increase them beyond the current 10% if negotiations on a new trade framework are not concluded by July 9. The sources further said the meeting between Ramaphosa and Trump was significant, given the current state of US-SA trade relations. 'The business sector has expressed concerns about the rise of tariffs, and Ramaphosa is under pressure to come up with answers. A successful meeting could help to ease tensions and pave the way for improved trade relations between the two countries,' the source added. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya had not responded to questions as to what to expect at the upcoming meeting. However, Ramaphosa, while speaking to journalists on Tuesday after he announced the date for the National Dialogue on various issues affecting the country, confirmed that he would be meeting Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Ramaphosa said he was invited by Carney, who holds the presidency of the G7, and would also use the opportunity to talk about the G20 Summit to be hosted by South Africa in November, where Trump will take over the presidency. 'We're going to use it as a platform to begin to consolidate what we want to achieve in November when the leaders' summit takes place here (in Johannesburg),' he said. Last month, Ramaphosa and his delegation included Minister of Trade and Industry Parks Tau, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, and International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola. His goals for that meeting included resetting US-SA relations and beginning serious engagement with the US on trade and investment. He emphasised that South Africa did not 'go kowtowing' to the White House but rather took the initiative to engage with the US. 'For us, it's important for us as a nation to reposition ourselves in the very turbulent geopolitical architecture or situation that we have,' Ramaphosa said at the time. Business Unity South Africa could not respond to inquiries regarding expectations of Ramaphosa's upcoming meeting, citing the absence of its CEO, Khulekani Mathe, who is in Switzerland on a work visit.
