Latest news with #ChrisWyatt
The South African
7 hours ago
- Politics
- The South African
'DEMANDING' unemployed refugee applicants told to be patient
US intelligence analyst Chris Wyatt has cautioned 'demanding' refugee applicants to exercise patience as they await a call back from authorities. He's also warned the group and other South Africans that the 'golden ticket' offer to 'persecuted' people is NOT a job programme. In February, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order fast-tracking the status of white Afrikaners and other racial minorities. In a video uploaded to his social media account, Chris Wyatt responded to South Africans who had inundated him with messages about their refugee resettlement programme applications. The retired military colonel has taken an interest in the plight of 'persecuted' minorities in South Africa, one of them being Afrikaners. Admitting to being 'frustrated', he said: 'Here is some advice for anxious and impatient people: get on with your lives. When the call comes, the call comes. 'People are being offered the most amazing gift possible under the unbelievable circumstances – where no one gave a c**p and completely ignored your plight – to become quite demanding. He added of refugee applicants: 'Did you really think they would call you the next day? Honestly, you have very unrealistic expectations about how the world works. 'You had no offer [before]. You're not paying for this. We, the American taxpayers, are paying for this. We're not invading your country; you're coming here, at our invitation. '… You're not entitled to this. It's not a right; it's a gift.' @edlin1344 Has the South Africa Refugee Program stopped NO#edlin1344 ♬ original sound – Edlin In the clip, Chris Wyatt also claimed the refugee progamme was not a job programme for unemployed South Africans. He said: 'Let's be clear about something…I'm getting increasingly distressed messages from people, and they're articulating completely the wrong reasons why they want to participate in the programme. About 50% of the messages are from people who say they do not have a job. Well, this isn't a job scheme. We are not bringing South Africans to America to give you jobs…we don't need South Africans to do jobs, we don't need your skills, we don't care what you contribute. South African 'refugees' – predominantly white Afrikaners – have expressed interest in the refugee programme. Images via X: @usembassysa 'If that's what you are coming for, and you are complaining that it is taking too long, then you need to put your CV in somewhere else, at Steers, Debonairs, or Eskom. He added: 'That's the bottom line.' According to the US Embassy, applicants for the refugee programme must meet the following criteria. Be South African Be of Afrikaner ethnicity or be a member of a racial minority in South Africa. Must be able to articulate an experience of persecution or fear of future persecution. Applicants who met the criteria were encouraged to complete and submit a Statement of Interest form. In line with US President Donald Trump's claims of 'racial discrimination', applicants must prove that they have been 'persecuted' in their applications. In the Statement of Interest form, applicants are required to specify if the 'persecution' was based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, membership of a social group, or a fear of 'future harm'. Other questions included when the prospective 'refugee' would like to travel to the US, how many family members they would like to bring, and if interested parties have a valid passport. 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.
The South African
2 days ago
- Politics
- The South African
'No refugees are hungry': Backlash after 'struggling' family report
US intelligence analyst Chris Wyatts has rubbished reports of an Afrikaner 'refugee' family who were allegedly left stranded in a motel without access to a phone, car, or food. The retired army colonel shared his views hours after a TikToker's claims about the family went viral. In recent weeks, two groups of white South Africans have taken up US President Donald Trump's offer of refugee resettlement on the grounds of 'unjust racial discrimination'. The programme is open to all racial minorities who have been 'persecuted' in SA. In a social media post, Chris Wyatt rubbished a TikToker's claims that an Afrikaner 'refugee' family of four had been 'stranded' at a motel in Montana after arriving in the US in recent weeks. The female TikToker – @catmpt – claimed that she had come across the family's woes in a Facebook group for South Africans living in the US. According to the woman, the 'refugees' reportedly did not have food, money, or a cellphone. She said of the family and the group of 'refugees': 'They understood that they would be arriving here for complete assistance. People thought they would be arriving at a house, a job, medical insurance, and other things. It isn't that way at all. She added: 'Because of the political situation, they are really struggling to get jobs'. She added: 'Here, these people, regardless of what they were promised, just came here expecting everything'. Responding to the woman – who has since deleted her TikTok videos – Wyatt said: 'Tell me which refugees are not getting assistance? 'It's ludicrous! They've been here for three weeks. People live in South Africa for 17 years without a job in some cases…you don't know anything. You're repeating nonsense. You're opinions mean nothing.' Wyatt added that many in the first group of 'refugees' now reportedly had social security numbers, and one had a car and a job already. That person arrived at an apartment stocked with food. He added, 'No refugees are going hungry, and no refugees are suffering in motels. Most of them should be in their permanent housing, as per the way the system works.' @colonelchriswyatt Why are people spreading these lies? #southafrica #refugee #program #ramaphosa ♬ original sound – Colonel Chris Wyatt In another video, Chris Wyatt urged South Africans who had applied for the refugee resettlement programme to exercise their patience while awaiting feedback. He also claimed that the programme was still open despite the public's uncertainty about the 'falling out' between US President Donald Trump and South African-born former right-hand man Elon Musk. He said, 'Do you seriously think this happens overnight? Here is some advice for anxious and impatient people: get on with your lives. When the call comes, the call comes. 'It's getting incredibly frustrating. People are being offered the most amazing gift possible under the unbelievable circumstances – where no one gave a c**p and completely ignored your plight – to become quite demanding. He added, 'Honestly, you have very unrealistic expectations about how the world works. 'You had no offer [before]. You're not paying for this. We, the American taxpayers, are paying for this….you're not entitled to this. It's not a right, it's a gift'. @edlin1344 Has the South Africa Refugee Program stopped NO#edlin1344 ♬ original sound – Edlin 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
- Politics
- IOL News
WATCH: Afrikaner refugee shares her story of leaving South Africa for the US
Farmer and guesthouse owner, Thea van Straten shared her reasons for leaving SA for refugee status in the US with Colonel Chris Wyatt. Image: Screenshot Afrikaner refugees who boarded a plane for the United States say they left South Africa for safety reasons. The flight was fully funded by the US government. On Sunday, a group of more than 45 Afrikaners travelled to the US under US President Donald Trump's refugee program for Afrikaners. Trump claimed that "very bad things" were happening in SA, insisting that there was genocide (an act committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group) taking place in the country. Farm attacks In an interview with independent journalist and retired Army officer, Colonel Chris Wyatt, Thea van Straten said she had survived four attacks on her farm in the Free State. She said the most recent attack happened while she was applying for the program. These attacks happened in the space of two years. 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 first group of Afrikaners from South Africa to arrive for resettlement listen to remarks from US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and US Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Troy Edgar Image: SAUL LOEB / AFP Van Straten, who owned a guesthouse and cattle, said Afrikaners continued to be blamed for the sins of the Apartheid government. "We are just the black-lash. I mean, it ended 31 years ago. How long are we going to carry on," adding that Afrikaners were not consulted by the government regarding the Land Expropriation Act. She told Wyatt that there are people back in SA taking care of the farm and it is in the process of being sold. "It's me, myself and whatever I have in my banking couple of suitcases. If it [the farm] doesn't get sold, it doesn't get sold. That's it. I am taking the risk," van Straten said. Another Afrikaner, Charl Kleinhaus, farmer in Limpopo, travelled to Buffalo after landing in the US and told the New York Times that he and his family packed their bags for safety reasons. Trump's Afrikaner refugee program is centred around the Land Expropriation Act. Understanding the Land Expropriation Act The refugee program was introduced after the Land Expropriation Bill was signed into law. However, despite the many reports on the bill and explainers, there are still those who do not fully understand what the act means. Speaking to Africa Check, a fact-checking site, Thomas Karberg, an associate at the legal firm Werksmans Attorneys, explained that under the Act, land can be expropriated to build among other structures, roads and government-funded facilities. Africa Check stated that, "The main purpose of the act is to allow the government to attain ownership of private property for a public purpose or in the public interest, where property owners will receive just and equitable compensation for expropriated land, rather than being paid the market value. This new act also allows for land to be expropriated without compensation in exceptional cases." The Act does not simply allow for government to confiscate land from anyone. There are laws that must be followed.
