logo
South African 'attacked' in US after being mistaken for 'refugee'

South African 'attacked' in US after being mistaken for 'refugee'

The South African18 hours ago

A South African living in the US has recounted how she was almost attacked by Americans after being mistaken for a 'refugee'.
This comes after two groups of white South Africans were granted asylum in the US under President Donald Trump's administration. The resettlement programme is open to racial minorities who have voiced their 'fear of persecution' over claims of a 'white genocide' and 'racial discrimination' in the country.
On her TikTok account, South African woman Dharma Houston shared her harrowing account of being targeted by Americans over her nationality.
She said, 'I just got attacked in a grocery store because someone asked me where I was from. And I said 'South Africa''.
She continued: 'One of the workers got up and said, 'You should not be allowed in our country. They should never have let you in. They should never have granted you refugee status.'
The woman added, 'I'm not a refugee. This is what it's going to become. Everyone is going to hate South Africans.' @homesickandhot
This is coming from genuine confusion not hate ♬ original sound – Dharma Houston
Meanwhile, US media are reporting that President Trump is ramping up his plan to grant 1000 white Afrikaners 'refugee status' as part of the resettlement programme.
This comes as the Trump administration indefinitely halted the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) to all other countries earlier this year. Around 1000 Afrikaners will be granted 'refugees status' in the US. This comes after President Trump halted resettlement programmes to other countries.
Images via X: @usembassysa
According to the Washington Post , a state department spokesperson said officials were 'prioritising the US refugee resettlement of Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination'.
The administration is also moving to block entry for 160 refugees from other countries that had been scheduled to arrive in the US before Trump halted their admission.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 .
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Malema pledges EFF support for Mthatha flood victims
Malema pledges EFF support for Mthatha flood victims

The South African

timean hour ago

  • The South African

Malema pledges EFF support for Mthatha flood victims

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has vowed to support communities affected by recent floods in Mthatha and criticised government delays in responding to the crisis. Speaking during a visit to the flood-hit region on Saturday, 28 June, Malema said government officials were slow to act, despite the floods claiming lives and destroying infrastructure. 'After more than 100 people died, the army only came after the fence,' Malema said. 'If there's a disaster, it means there's an emergency. We can't keep calling meetings. We must meet people on the ground and help.' Malema condemned authorities for holding meetings instead of providing immediate aid and promised that the EFF would help families bury their loved ones with dignity. Malema said the EFF would assist bereaved families whose loved ones died in the floods. According to The Citizen , he also promised to confront any traditional, municipal or police who interfered with burial rights. 'No one should be refused a burial,' he said. 'We will make sure everyone who needs to be buried is buried.' He also raised concerns over families, especially those with young children, who had been denied access to temporary shelters, and some even turned away from churches. 'We cannot have children sleeping under trees,' Malema said. 'Let's find them a wall, a church or a school. Let's go back and plead with the church to accommodate these people while we work on urgent solutions.' Malema urged affluent South Africans, especially Black business leaders and major foundations, to help communities affected by the floods. 'Where is the Motsepe Foundation when parents are asking for clothes for children?' he asked. He contrasted the lack of support in Mthatha with relief efforts in wealthy areas like Cape Town. 'In Cape Town, when there was a disaster, companies sent food, clothes, everything. Why not here?' The EFF leader stressed that victims need more than just basic relief. 'The disaster washed away the clothes, furniture and belongings of our people. Let's help them rebuild their lives.' He added that women especially need sanitary pads, toiletries and clothing. Malema praised the women leading local relief centres, calling them strong leaders who must continue to speak truthfully about their communities' needs. 'Don't lie to receive food. Speak the truth. Sponsors who want lies are not welcome,' he said. He urged communities to maintain honesty and transparency: 'Where there are issues, please speak to us.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.

Malema promises urgent aid for Mthatha flood victims
Malema promises urgent aid for Mthatha flood victims

The Citizen

time2 hours ago

  • The Citizen

Malema promises urgent aid for Mthatha flood victims

Malema highlighted the urgent need for proper accommodation for displaced residents, particularly families with children who have been denied access to temporary shelters. Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema has pledged to find urgent solutions for flood victims in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, following devastating floods that have claimed lives and destroyed infrastructure. During a visit to the region on Saturday, Malema was welcomed by King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo at Nkululekweni Palace ahead of a briefing on the flood's impact. The EFF leader issued a direct appeal to wealthy South Africans, particularly Black business leaders, to unite in support of the flood-stricken communities, criticising what he sees as inadequate government response and unequal disaster relief efforts. Malema criticises government response to Mthatha floods Malema expressed frustration with the delayed government response to the disaster, emphasising the need for immediate action rather than bureaucratic procedures. 'After more than 100 people died, the army only comes after the fence. So we want a responsive government and the EFF is such a responsive government,' he said. 'If there's a disaster, disaster means there's an emergency. You can't [just] be calling meetings, we must meet on the ground and help people.' He criticised officials for holding meetings while people were suffering, stating: 'We are going to make sure you are all attended to. Yesterday the initial chair was telling me we had one family with a bereavement. There is four families now who want to bury their loved ones.' ALSO READ: WATCH: Another tragic twist in Eastern Cape flood tragedy EFF commits to burial support The party leader announced that the EFF would provide direct assistance to families who have lost loved ones in the floods. 'We are going to help them as the EFF to bury those loved ones in a dignified manner,' Malema declared. He also addressed issues surrounding burial rights, asserting that no one should be denied proper burial arrangements. 'The EFF has to answer to that issue. No one should be refused a burial right. If it's traditional leadership, we can take it up with them, then we will take it up with those people. If it's the police or the municipality, we will take it up with the police and the municipality to make sure that whoever needs to be buried must be buried.' ♦️In Pictures♦️ The EFF President and Commander in Chief, @Julius_S_Malema, offering his heartfelt condolences to the Mkatshane family at the funeral service of 14-year-old Siyavuya Mkatshane, who tragically lost his life after being swept away by floods on his way to school.… — Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) June 28, 2025 ALSO READ: First the floods and now snow, more rain for Eastern Cape residents Accommodation crisis for displaced Mthatha floods victims Malema highlighted the urgent need for proper accommodation for displaced residents, particularly families with children who have been denied access to temporary shelters. He mentioned that some victims had been 'chased out of a church or whatever' and emphasised the need to find alternative accommodation immediately. 'We cannot have children sleeping under trees because someone is denying people access,' he said. 'Let's find them a wall, let's find them a church, let's find them a school. Let's go back to the same church and plead with the church and please accommodate these people while we are still looking for urgent solution.' ALSO READ: Eastern Cape residents say they've been ignored by government after floods Malema calls for corporate and private sector support The EFF leader made a pointed appeal to wealthy individuals and corporations to contribute to relief efforts, drawing comparisons to disaster response in more affluent areas. He questioned why similar support wasn't materialising for Mthatha victims. 'When I leave here, I'm going to call on other people,' Malema announced. He specifically called out the absence of major foundations and wealthy individuals, asking: 'But where is Motsepe Foundation when parents are saying, 'we are asking for clothes for children'?' Malema drew attention to disparities in disaster response, referencing relief efforts in Cape Town's affluent areas. 'There was a disaster in Cape Town in one of the most expensive places. We saw the big companies going there, sending food, sending clothes, sending all types of things in the Western Cape. Why is that not happening [here]?' ALSO READ: WATCH: Bad weather and floods wreak havoc in Cape Town Appeal to black economic leaders Making a direct appeal to Black business leaders and wealthy individuals, Malema emphasised the responsibility of successful Black South Africans to support their communities during times of crisis. 'We call on the rich people, especially Black people, to come in and help our people with everything necessary,' he said. He stressed that victims needed comprehensive support beyond basic provisions. 'The disaster washed away the clothes, the furniture and the belongings of our people. Let's help them to rebuild their life,' Malema explained. He further noted that women particularly needed sanitary pads and clothing, not just blankets. Support for community leadership Malema praised the women leading the relief centers and encouraged them to continue speaking truth about their communities' needs. 'What made me happy is that the leaders of these centres are women. You are very strong and it is through that spirit that you will have gained a lot of support.' He urged community leaders not to compromise their honesty for the sake of receiving aid. 'Don't be scared to talk because you must not receive food for lying. You have to tell the truth. If they say sponsors won't come because you are telling the truth, then it means the sponsors like lies. We don't want people who want lies.' Furthermore, the EFF leader encouraged continued communication and transparency: 'So continue to speak, continue to express yourself, speak truth to power. Where there are issues, please speak to us.' NOW READ: Are Sassa payments in the Eastern Cape at risk due to floods and a looming cold front?

Ramaphosa and Trump to discuss trade relations at G7 Summit
Ramaphosa and Trump to discuss trade relations at G7 Summit

The Star

time2 hours ago

  • The Star

Ramaphosa and Trump to discuss trade relations at G7 Summit

Mashudu Sadike | Published 2 weeks ago 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. Ramaphosa's meeting with Trump will be his second in about three weeks, following their tense 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 did not respond 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. Cape Times

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store