Latest news with #MISTRA
News24
3 days ago
- General
- News24
No, Joel Netshitenzhe did not call Starlink a Trojan Horse for US military control
A viral post falsely claims former politician Joel Netshitenzhe called Starlink a US military 'Trojan Horse' in South Africa. Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA), where Netshitenzhe is an executive director, has confirmed he never wrote or endorsed the analysis. The claim, which itself lacks substantiation, originated from a Facebook post that was wrongly attributed and later publicly retracted. A viral post circulating on social media falsely claims to be a 'concise analysis' by South African policy analyst and politician Joel Netshitenzhe. Dated 27 May 2025, the post alleges that Elon Musk's satellite internet company, Starlink, is a covert instrument of the United States military and geopolitical dominance - a 'Trojan Horse' threatening South Africa's digital sovereignty. But the attribution to Netshitenzhe is incorrect. In a statement issued on 28 May, the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA), where Netshitenzhe serves as executive director, disassociated itself from the analysis. READ | 'It has come to the attention of the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) that a contribution providing an analysis of Starlink's interest in South Africa is in circulation on X,' the statement reads. 'We would like to unequivocally state that our Executive Director, Mr Joel Netshitenzhe, has published no such analysis and that MISTRA is in no way associated with the write-up that is being circulated.' The post, which has been widely reshared on Facebook and X, appears to have originated as a Facebook text post. It was subsequently copied and posted on X by Donovan Calvin Meyer, who in turn also wrongly attributed it to Netshitenzhe. Meyer later issued a public apology: I do not know how to undo this, I am embarrassed and ashamed, I just pasted from a FB post, my sincere apology to @SizweLo, I follow him, not sure how I missed this one, this is his writing I am familiar with — Donovan Calvin Meyer (@Calidonny) May 28, 2025 Despite calls to delete it, the post remained live at the time of publication. The original author of the Starlink claims appears to be Sizwe SikaMusi, who describes himself as a 'social commentator and gatekeeper of historical facts'. While some debate continues around Starlink's global military associations - including its use in Ukraine and its connection to US defence contracts via SpaceX - there is currently no evidence that the service will be used to spy on South Africans or bypass national laws. The tactic of attaching a prominent name to a generic statement is a classic tool used by purveyors of online misinformation. Netshitenzhe is a respected public figure and analyst, and using his name alongside unverified geopolitical claims distorts national debate on technology, sovereignty, and regulatory oversight, particularly in the context of growing public interest around Starlink's possible rollout in South Africa.
Fox News
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Rubio says South Africa must protect White farmers, US will offer admission to those facing violence
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday said White South Africans facing threats of violence would be welcomed in the United States. Rubio's position comes amid tension between the South African government and the Trump administration over that country's land expropriation law and its anti-Israel stance. In a post on X, Rubio referred to the "Kill the Boer," an old anti-apartheid chant that critics say is a call to anti-White violence and has been used to refer to White farmers. "South Africa's leaders and politicians must take action to protect Afrikaner and other disfavored minorities," Rubio wrote on Monday. "The United States is proud to offer those individuals who qualify for admission to our nation amid this continued horrible threat of violence." The Trump administration has pushed back against South Africa's expropriation law, as well as its stance against Israel. The land expropriation law allows the government to make land seizures without compensation. In February, Trump issued an executive order penalizing South Africa. "In shocking disregard of its citizens' rights, the Republic of South Africa recently enacted Expropriation Act 13 of 2024, to enable the government of South Africa to seize ethnic minority Afrikaners' agricultural property without compensation," the order states. In addition, South Africa has accused Israel in the International Court of Justice of committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The country is also growing closer with Iran, with plans to develop commercial, military, and nuclear arrangements. Earlier this month, Rubio announced that South Africa's ambassador to the U.S. was no longer welcome in the country. In a post on X, Rubio called Embrahim Rasool a "race-baiting" politician who hates America and Trump. Rasool addressed the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) in Johannesburg when he said Trump's Make America Great Again movement a White supremacist response to demographic changes in the U.S. In response, Rubio declared the ambassador "PERSONA NON GRATA," meaning not welcome. Fox News Digital has reached out to the South African Embassy in Washington D.C.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
U.S. expels ‘race-baiting' South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool
March 15 (UPI) -- Sec. of State Marco Rubio announced the expulsion of South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool following remarks Rasool made accusing the United States of engaging in "supremacist" policies domestically and globally. "South Africa's ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country," Rubio said Friday in a post on X. "Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates [President Donald Trump]," Rubio said. "We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered persona non grata." Rasool's remarks during a MISTRA online webinar titled, "Implications of changes in U.S. administration for South Africa and Africa," spurred his expulsion. The Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection hosted the webinar and defines itself as a "progressive institute" with a stated mission of advancing South Africa's development by "addressing the complex challenges that straddle issues of nation-formation, economic growth, social equity, science and technology, and the country's positioning in a globalized world." Rasool's participation begins at the 13-minute mark, and he accuses the United States of engaging in "supremacist" actions in opposition to what Rasool calls an "incumbency" of those holding power. Rasool said the Trump administration is continuing the prior Biden administration's "resistance" to the "emerging multi-polarity in the world" while trying to "maintain U.S. ideological hegemony" globally. He cited the "arming of Ukraine and Israel" as evidence of the resistance and accused the Trump administration of "disrespect for the institutional base for the current hegemonic order." Rasool cited U.S. negotiations with Russia and disrespect for NATO, the U.N., bypassing funding of the World Bank, and opposing South Africa chairing the G20 instead of the United States as evidence of "supremacist" actions by the Trump administration. "What Donald Trump is launching is an assault on incumbency, those who are in power, by mobilizing a supremacism against the incumbency at home and abroad," Rasool said. "The supremacist assault on incumbency we see in the domestic politics of the USA, the MAGA movement ... as a response" that is rooted in "supremacist instinct," Rasool said. He accused the Trump administration of trying to maintain political power among "whites" in the United States and globally. "Very clear data shows great demographic shifts in the USA in which the voting electorate is projected to become 48% white and the possibility of a majority of minorities is looming on the horizon," Rasool said. He said the shifting U.S. demographic "needs to be factored in so we understand" Trump administration policies, including the an "instinctive nativist, racist" border wall being built, deportations and "export of the revolution." Such actions are to "project white victimhood as a dog whistle that there is a global protected movement in embattled white communities," Rasool said while calling Trump administration policies a "supremacist insurgency against the incumbency" in the United States and globally. His expulsion by U.S. officials requires Rasool to leave the United States by Friday, a State Department spokesperson told CNN. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Rasool's expulsion from the United States is "regrettable" in a statement posted on X Saturday. "South Africa remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States of America," Ramaphosa said. He urged "all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter."
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rubio declares South African ambassador to US ‘persona non grata' over Trump comments
Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared South African ambassador to the U.S. Ebrahim Rasool 'persona non grata' and accused the diplomat of being a 'race-baiting politician' over his recent comments about President Trump. 'South Africa's Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country,' Rubio said in a Friday post on the social platform X. 'Emrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS. We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.' In the same post, Rubio shared a link to an article by right-wing news outlet Breitbart detailing Rasool's comments to the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) think-tank in Johannesburg, South Africa. Rasool, in his video address to the think-tank, accused Trump of leading a 'white supremacist movement' at home and abroad. 'So in terms of that, the supremacist assault on incumbency, we see it in the domestic politics of the USA, the MAGA movement, the Make America Great Again movement, as a response not simply to a supremacist instinct, but to very clear data that shows great demographic shifts in the USA in which the voting electorate in the USA is projected to become 48 percent white,' Rasool said. 'And so that needs to be factored in, so that we understand some of the things that we think are instinctive, nativist, racist things, I think that there's data that, for example, would support that, that would go to this wall being built, the deportation movement,' the South Africa diplomat said. The Hill has reached out to the State Department and South African embassy in Washington for comment. Calling a foreign diplomat persona non grata is a strong reprimand that could lead to the official being forced to depart the country. Rasool was South Africa's ambassador in Washington from 2010 to 2015. He returned to serve again earlier this year. The rebuke from Rubio comes as the relationship between South Africa and the U.S. has worsened. Trump signed an executive order in early February to pause aid to South Africa. He hammered the country for seizing 'ethnic minority Afrikaners' agricultural property without compensation.' Trump's dissatisfaction with South Africa bubbled up as the African nation signed legislation in January, dubbed the Expropriation Act, allowing the government to take land without payback when it deems it 'just and equitable and in the public interest.' At the time of signing the order, Trump accused the South African government of confiscating 'land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY.' South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa and other nation's officials push back on Trump claims. Ramaphosa said the law is 'not a confiscation instrument, but a constitutionally mandated legal process that ensures public access to land in an equitable and just manner as guided by the constitution.' Days prior to Trump penning the order to suspend aid to South Africa, Rubio said he would skip the G20 summit in Johannesburg, alleging that South Africa was 'doing very bad things.' 'Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote 'solidarity, equality, & sustainability.' In other words: DEI and climate change,' Rubio said at the time. Trump said earlier this month that he is offering an expedited pathway to U.S. citizenship to South African farmers. The president said some of them are being treated terribly and, again, accused the government of 'confiscating their LAND and FARMS, and MUCH WORSE THAN THAT.' The relationship between South Africa and the U.S. has 'reached its lowest point,' according to Patrick Gaspard, the ex-U.S. ambassador to South Africa. He is now the president of the liberal Center for American Progress think-tank. 'There's too much at stake to not work towards the repair of this partnership,' he wrote Friday on X. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rubio boots South African ambassador from US: 'persona non grata'
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday said South Africa's ambassador to the U.S. was no longer welcome in the country, while calling him a "race-baiting" politician who hates America and President Donald Trump after he said the commander-in-chief is leading a global White supremacist movement. On Thursday, South African Ambassador Embrahim Rasool addressed the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) in Johannesburg while explaining Trump's opposition to his country's expropriation law and its anti-Israel stances. He said Trump's Make America Great Again movement was a White supremacist response to demographic changes in the U.S. South African President Signs Controversial Land Seizure Bill, Eroding Private Property Rights "What Donald Trump is launching is an assault on incumbency, those who are in power, by mobilizing a supremacism against the incumbency, at home, and, I think I've illustrated, abroad as well," he said. "So in terms of that, the supremacist assault on incumbency, we see it in the domestic politics of the USA, the MAGA movement, the Make America Great Again movement, as a response not simply to a supremacist instinct, but to very clear data that shows great demographic shifts in the USA in which the voting electorate in the USA is projected to become 48% white." Rubio, in a post on X, blasted Rasool over his remarks. Read On The Fox News App "South Africa's Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country," the secretary said. "Emrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS. We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA." Trump has criticized South Africa over a land expropriation law that allows the government to make land seizures without compensation. In February, Trump issued an executive order penalizing South Africa. "In shocking disregard of its citizens' rights, the Republic of South Africa recently enacted Expropriation Act 13 of 2024, to enable the government of South Africa to seize ethnic minority Afrikaners' agricultural property without compensation," the order states. Trump Freezes Aid To South Africa, Promotes Resettlement Of Refugees Facing Race Discrimination "It is the policy of the United States that, as long as South Africa continues these unjust and immoral practices that harm our Nation: (a) the United States shall not provide aid or assistance to South Africa; and (b) the United States shall promote the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation." The order also took aim at South Africa's position against Israel, which it has accused in the International Court of Justice of committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, as well as reinvigorating its relations with Iran to develop commercial, military, and nuclear arrangements. "The United States cannot support the government of South Africa's commission of rights violations in its country or its undermining United States foreign policy, which poses national security threats to our Nation, our allies, our African partners, and our interests," the order said. The South African government has claimed Whites of all backgrounds, not just Afrikaners, still own approximately 70% of South Africa's land. The government is on record saying the Expropriation Act will only be used to take land needed for public purposes — such as for a new school — from people of any color when the owner refuses to sell, and even then there would be "fair and equitable compensation."Original article source: Rubio boots South African ambassador from US: 'persona non grata'
