Latest news with #Afrikaaners
Eyewitness News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
The truth behind the video of white crosses shown during Ramaphosa's meeting with Trump
JOHANNESBURG - A viral video taken from a helicopter showing hundreds of white crosses along a rural road in South Africa was the focus during Wednesday's meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Donald Trump. The video formed part of a compilation shown in the White House during an official visit to the US by Ramaphosa ahead of talks to reset strained relations between the two countries. The meeting falls on the back of claims that there is a white genocide against farmers in South Africa, specifically targeting Afrikaaners, who were recently granted refugee status in America. READ: [WATCH] Tshidi Madia does a wrap of the Trump-Ramaphosa meeting A video showing 500 white crosses lining either side of a rural road and hundreds of vehicles participating in a peaceful protest was the focus during Wednesday's meeting between presidents Donald Trump and Cyril Ramaphosa in the White House. Trump: "It's a terrible sight, I've never seen anything like it. Both sides of the road, you have crosses. Those people were all killed." Ramaphosa: "Have they told you where that is, Mr President?" Trump: "No." Ramaphosa: "I'd like to know where that is." The video was taken on Saturday, 5 September in 2020 during a peaceful protest in Normandien, Newcastle in northern KwaZulu-Natal. It followed the double murder of Normandien farmers, Glen and Vida Rafferty, who were killed on their farm by intruders - three of whom were subsequently arrested and sentenced between 2021 and 2022. Three days after the murders, former Police Minister Bheki Cele visited the Rafferty family to prioritise the case and engage with locals. "We are having about seven farmers since last year who have been killed, including the house breaking and it looks like we have made good progress." The protest was held by local farmers in the region six days after the Raffertys were murdered, to raise awareness of farm murders. There is no evidence to suggest the crosses in the video were in honour of specific farmers.
The South African
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Rassie praised for 'embracing change' amid Afrikaner backlash
While a group of Afrikaners have arrived in the US under 'refugee' status, and many more are considering the great 'Trek', one that has been praised for staying behind and leading transformation in South African sports is Springbok coach, Rassie Erasmus. The rugby boss has been instrumental in honing the skills of players of colour, often from disadvantaged backgrounds. In 2018, he also received flak for naming Siya Kolisi as the squad's first black captain. In an X post by author and social justice commentator Khaya Dlanga, Rassie Erasmus was praised for his commitment to his home country. The Boks boss was also hailed for his ability to relate to players from underprivileged backgrounds. Khaya posted: 'While some Afrikaaners are spreading misinformation, here is what one is doing. 'The man [Rassie Erasmus] has an almost instinctive, compassionate grasp of our history, its complexities and contradictions. Yet, does not get caught up in the emotion of it all. He mixes his compassion with practical solutions that lead to the best possible outcome. 'He does not resist change. To him, it's not a threat or something that dilutes what already exists. It's an addition that makes the team better, stronger. 'What sets him apart as a leader in this country, is that he does not assume someone from a different background knows less. Because he listens'. Khaya continued that Rassie could 'turn hardships into edges'. 'He stands in the fire with his team until they all forge something new and better. 'For him, transformation is not just an inconvenient box-ticking exercise. It's not about reluctantly meeting a quota or leaving players to sink or swim. His mindset is: How do I set up everyone to win? And boy, is he winning!' In the clip posted by Khaya Dlanga on X, Rassie Erasmus was seen sharing a touching message to a crowd. The Springboks boss was delivering his acceptance speech of the Goodwill Award from the FW De Klerk Foundation for helping to 'unite South Africans.' Rassie said: 'A lot of people think when we talk transformation, it's 'white out, black in'. Transformation in any other country means change. It became such a nasty word in South Africa…' Rassie added that back in 2013, he began establishing the foundation of transformation via a database of rugby players from all races. He continued: 'In that way, we were not 'white out, black in'. We built a database of players who are now playing for the Springboks. 'We don't have quotas. I hate that word, and I think it's embarrassing. We call it a change in how we select the team and management. It's purely about what you put out and how you get better.' 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.
IOL News
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
WATCH: Witty TikToker imagines a 2085 history lesson on 'The Great Tsek of 2025'
TikTok user pretends to be a history teacher in 2085. Image: TikTok A South African TikTok user, @dndndognerd, has the internet in stitches after sharing a series of hilarious videos in which she pretends to be a teacher imagining a history lesson in 2085. In these videos, she quizzes her make-believe learners about what she refers to as the 'Great Tsek of 2025", a mock reference to the Afrikaaners who emigrated from South Africa to America. Coming across as a very stern teacher, she asks the learners to open their history books and then proceeds to question them on the topic of the 'Great Tsek'. 'Who can tell me when in 2025 did the 'Great Tsek' happen?' she asks the class. One of the fictional learners, whom she named Kobus, responds, 'May 2025.' 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 ✕ She then goes on to ask the learners why the 'Great Tsek' happened. Pretending to be another learner named Ntokozo she answers, 'Yes, because the voortsekkers were not happy with equality and they were trying to victimise themselves and then they tried to commit treason and it didn't work and they accidentally ended up with 'refugee status'. Her final question to the class centred around why so many people were angry at the voortsekkers for the move. A learner named Mark, who seems to have a bit of a dirty mouth, responded that they thought the rest of the work was stupid. The humorous skit has been viewed over 900,000 times, with thousands of people jumping into the comment section responding to the witty clip. 'Now I want to time travel… Be in this class… pass the term… write a whole essay… And focus on how that impacted Brakpan,' one user commented. Another said, 'South Africa is a movie. I'm telling you. The most diverse country in the world. Hate or love us, it's your business.' The TikToker went on to create more videos around the same topic. In another skit, she asks the class what happened to the voorstekkers when they realised there was no biltong in America. One of the imaginary learners responded that it was the 'biltong revolution' that happened in 2026. With sharp wit and satire, her videos blend humour and social commentary in a way that clearly resonates with South African TikTok users. IOL Entertainment
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump repeats disputed claim that white farmers suffering ‘genocide' in South Africa as first ‘refugees' are flown in to US
Donald Trump on Monday claimed that the US media was refusing to write about a supposed 'genocide' taking place in South Africa given that the alleged victims were white. He made the comments in the Oval Office during a brief media availability centered around the signing of an executive order aimed at establishing price controls for prescription drugs. The US president's remarks came as the first flight of white South African 'refugees' were set to imminently disembark at Dulles airport. '[I]t's a genocide that's taking place that you people don't want to write about,' said Trump. '[I]t's a terrible thing that's taking place. And farmers are being killed. They happen to be white, but whether they're white or Black makes no difference to me, but white farmers are being brutally killed, and their land is being confiscated in South Africa.' Violence against white farmers is not particularly widespread even by the admission of organizations led by Afrikaaners dedicated to tracking farm attacks in South Africa, which suffers from a high rate of violent crime in general. This is a breaking news report. More to follow...
Eyewitness News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Afrikaners relocating to US could lose their refugee status should they decide to return to SA
JOHANNESBURG - Nearly 50 Afrikaners headed to the United States (US) as refugees stand to lose their status should they decide to return to South Africa. The Department of International Relations said a group of 49 white Afrikaaners en route to America under a controversial resettlement programme could jeopardise their refugee protections if they try to come back. ALSO READ: SA transport officials detail flight plan for aircraft carrying 49 Afrikaners relocating to US The group is travelling under US President Donald Trump's executive order, which gives special entry to white South Africans claiming persecution, despite widespread rejection of the claim by the South African government. Their flight is set to land at Dulles Airport outside Washington, DC. What happens after that, including where they'll live and what support they receive, is entirely up to the US government. Their refugee applications, like all others, are handled confidentially, and South African officials said they've had no hand in the process. But the legal implications back home are significant. Diplomatic protections fall away, and while section 20 of the Constitution guarantees that 'no citizen may be deprived of citizenship,' returning under false claims could lead to court challenges over fraud or misrepresentation. Department of International Relations spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said refugee status isn't a revolving door. 'You really can't have your cake and eat it. You cannot go to the US on migration and economic interest and suddenly decide, 'I miss South African weather in December, I would like to have a braai with my friends in Pretoria,' and come back. No, it does not work like that. That is something you have to forgo.' For now, the first cohort of those fleeing what the government calls a false narrative of persecution is on its way, with more expected to follow in the coming weeks.
