Latest news with #CharlKleinhaus
The South African
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Afrikaner refugee's priviledged life in SA irks Americans
Two prominent US actors have reacted to a Dan Corder video criticising Afrikaner 'refugee' Charl Kleinhaus's privileged life in South Africa. The TV and radio personality called out the Mpumalanga businessman's claim of 'persecution' on the basis of his race. Last week, Kleinhaus claimed he left behind a 'five-bedroom house ' and, ironically, his mother in his desperate quest to flee the country. Over the weekend, Dan Corder posted a clip of him criticising Afrikaner 'refugee' Charl Kleinhaus. This comes after Kleinhaus – a Mpumalanga businessman – told the BBC that he had left behind a 'five-bedroom house' after he was 'threatened' by his community. 'If you are white, you are wrong in South Africa. I had nothing to do with Apartheid – nothing, nothing, nothing!', the 'refugee' said. In recent days, Charl Kleinhaus has been fingered by internet sleuths as being a well-connected granite mining entrepreneur. Social media users have also questioned the circumstances surrounding his departure as well as his motive of becoming an 'Afrikaner refugee'. Dan Corder also called out Kleinhaus for his anti-Semitic and Islamophobic past tweets, which the latter has defended. Corder's video was reposted by outspoken US actor and comedian DL Hughley. It was also liked by Oscar-winning screen star Viola Davis, who often shows love for South Africa on her own Instagram account. 'All this here', Hughley captioned the post. He later reposted a clip of social media commentator Pieter Kriel, who has been outspoken about the 'misinformation' spread by white South Africans. View this post on Instagram A post shared by realdlhughley (@realdlhughley) Meanwhile, another American is accusing President Donald Trump of showing 'preferential treatment' to white South Africans, or 'Afrikaner refugees'. TikToker @awondthegod3, who helps feed homeless Americans, has repeatedly criticised Trump's 'America First' stance. This comes after Trump's administration halted the refugee resettlement programme to other countries. He posted on one TikTok: 'Trump denied over 12 000 TRUE REFUGEES asylum, with his ban on immigration. Some of them had flights booked and had been waiting for years. 'What did it take for those South African, unvetted, alleged refugees to get a chartered flight to collect benefits?' He added: 'There's privilege in the air'. 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
19-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Charl Kleinhaus: Afrikaner 'refugee' in the US mingled with Jacob Zuma and headed mining company
Afrikaner 'refugee' Charl Kleinhaus, who is currently in asylum in the US recently opened up about how awful it was to leave behind his five-bedroom house and mother in South Africa while fleeing racial persecution. 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.
The South African
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Afrikaner 'refugee': 'I left a 5 bedroom house behind'
South African businessman Charl Kleinhaus has confessed to leaving a life of privilege behind to become an Afrikaner 'refugee' now living in the US. This week, 49 white South Africans arrived in America under President Donald Trump's resettlement programme. Kleinhaus – who owns a granite mining company in Limpopo – has also made headlines over his past antiSemitic social media posts. Speaking to the BBC, Charl Kleinhaus spoke about leaving his life in South Africa. He also responded to allegations by the public that Afrikaner 'refugees' were 'opportunistic'. He said: 'I had to leave a five-bedroom house which I will now lose, my car, my dogs, and my mother behind. I didnt come here for fun. But my children are safe'. He added, 'If you are white, you are wrong in South Africa. I had nothing to do with Apartheid – nothing, nothing, nothing! 'People must think we are taking advantage of this. We are coming here to make a contribution to the country'. During the interview, Kleinhaus claimed that as an Afrikaner businessman, he had received 'threatening' messages from his community in Limpopo. He also claimed that his equipment had been destroyed and that police could not assist him. ANTI-SEMITIC POSTS Charl Kleinhaus also touched on the backlash that has made headlines for making antiSemitic comments on social media. In 2023, the Afrikaner 'refugee' posted on X (formerly Twitter): 'Jews are untrustworthy and a dangerous group.' Kleinhaus claimed that he had 'copied and pasted' the comments from another X account. He added that at the time he was also in hospital 'on morphine'. On the X platform, Charl Kleinhaus's interview caused a stir, given the backlash to Afrikaner 'refugees' arriving in the US. @igorm365: 'If living in a five-bedroom house is real persecution, what is living in a shack then?' @Cthulhucachoo: 'What kind of man leaves his mother behind in an active genocide zone? She gave birth to you, and this is how you repay her?' @Mamhayise123: 'Bro doesn't afford bond anymore. He decided to run'. @CrutiFi: 'Why is Elon Musk leaving his father in a country with a white genocide?' 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
16-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
Afrikaner 'refugee' in the US: 'I left my five-bedroom house, dogs and mother behind'
Leaving behind a mansion: An Afrikaner's journey to the US as a refugee. Image: Screenshot/BBC An Afrikaner man who is part of the 49 people who went over to the US as 'refugees' has spoken out about how devastating it was to leave behind his five bedroom home and other possessions while fleeing from racial persecution in South Africa. Speaking to the BBC, Charl Kleinhaus told the media outlet that he did not go over to the US for fun but that rather, he had no choice in the matter. "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 said. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ The 'refugee' went on to say that white people are called land thieves and racist in the country. "I had nothing to do with apartheid. Nothing." Kleinhaus, however, enjoyed being welcomed by the Donald Trump administration and said that everyone who agreed to go to the US will have to start over as they have left their wealth here in the country. This is how the US government will assist in resettling families: Legal entry and work authorisation: Refugees gain lawful US entry and immediate work permission via a Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) and an Employment Authorization Document. Resettlement assistance: The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) will provide the Afrikaners with initial housing, job placement, and school enrolment support through resettlement agencies. Financial and medical aid: Eligible refugees access Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) and Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) for up to four months (post-May 2025 arrivals), covering basic needs like food and healthcare. Federal benefits like Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may also apply. Family reunification: Within two years, the Afrikaner refugees can file Form I-730 to petition for spouses and unmarried children under 21 to join them in the US. Path to permanent residency: After one year, the refugees can apply for a Green Card, offering a route to citizenship. Under 'normal' circumstances, to qualify, applicants must be outside the US (or, in rare cases, within their home country if authorised by the US President) and demonstrate past persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution. IOL Politics Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
Washington Post
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Afrikaner resettled by Jewish-affiliated group denies antisemitism claims
Just two days after arriving in the United States as a refugee from South Africa, Charl Kleinhaus found himself at the center of a very American media firestorm. Kleinhaus, 46, drew widespread criticism this week over his social media posts over the past two years about Jewish people and Israel — criticism that came while he and his family are being aided by a Jewish-affiliated resettlement group in Buffalo.
