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IOL News
13-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Cosatu downplays economic impact of Afrikaner immigration to the US
Racial privilege and the Afrikaner exodus: Afrikaners who departed for the US from South Africa fearing "genocide". Image: Marco Longari / AFP The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has downplayed the economic impact of more than 50 disgruntled white Afrikaners who immigrated to the United States, saying that most were unemployed and had been lured to the US for jobs. The Federation said that it was hopeful that other Afrikaners, who consider the option and who actually own farms and businesses, will sell their businesses to buyers who want to keep the existing business staff and to minimise the impact on their lives. On Sunday night 59 Afrikaners departed from OR Tambo International Airport to arrive in Washington on Monday night, where they were welcomed by US government officials. The group, who have been granted refugee status by the US government, has claimed that they have been subjected to a barrage of violence because of the colour of their skin in South Africa, fueling tensions between the two countries. US president Donald Trump in February signed an executive order which gave a nod to his administration to admit Afrikaners from South Africa who applied to be resettled in the US. The number of refugees was initially believed to be 49, but US officials reportedly confirmed that 59 arrived on Monday night. Cosatu spokesperson Matthew Parks emphasised that the departing individuals did not own businesses or investments, rendering their departure economically inconsequential. "There is no economic impact on the people that have left because none of the people who left own businesses or investments…Most were workers themselves and some were not working,' Parks said. He added that if Afrikaner business owners were leaving, their businesses would likely be sold to new owners who would retain the initial staff, ensuring continuity. Cosatu described the departure of the Afrikaners as a "klein trek" and questioned the US's characterisation of them as refugees. "They cannot be defined as refugees by any stretch of sobriety or common sense. A fact affirmed by no less an authority than the United Nations." Cosatu attributed the Afrikaners' decision to leave South Africa to their right to seek better opportunities abroad, as enshrined in the country's Constitution.. The US government has welcomed the Afrikaners, with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau claiming they had faced "violence and terror" in South Africa. Landau said on national television, "The president (Trump) made it clear that Afrikaners in South Africa, who are the victims of unjust racial discrimination, would be welcome to come to the United States, and he's now delivering on that promise." The US has resettled the Afrikaners in several states, including Idaho, Alabama, and California. The South African government has continued to dismiss claims of persecution against Afrikaners, with Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) Minister Ronald Lamola saying it was untrue. "There is no data at all that backs that there is a persecution of white South Africans or white Afrikaners." Lamola added that crime in South Africa affects everyone, regardless of race or gender,' Lamola said. AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel criticised the ANC-led government for allegedly targeting Afrikaners and minority communities through discriminatory legislation. "The refugee status of these Afrikaners is a direct result of the ANC-led government's targeting of Afrikaners and other minority communities. AfriForum plans to continue advocating for Afrikaner rights and providing support to Afrikaners abroad,' Kriel said. Economist Dawie Roodt said he had no details on the 59 Afrikaners who had left but said there was a large number of South African residents, of various races, leaving because of the ailing economy, crime and discrimination. 'There are a few things that impact a lot of people that are leaving…some people are just disgruntled because of the high cost of living in South Africa…Some don't want to pay the high taxes so they decided to rather take their money out of the country which makes the country the biggest loser,' Roodt said. He said this would all cause weaker economic growth and high unemployment. Roodt added that even though those who were leaving were not limited to white people only, the majority of them were white. Political analyst professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast said at a political level this development was a negative for national building and social cohesion. 'We can't have a country that would do good in national building if we are pulling in different directions,' Breakfast said. He however put the blame on the US, saying they had extensive intelligence resources and were supposed to use those resources to debunk the myth that white Afrikaners were being persecuted in South Africa. [email protected]
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Afrikaners fleeing to the US: Defining 'refugee' one first-class ticket at a time
Afrikaners and the refugee debate: What does it mean to be a refugee? Image: Marco Longari / AFP The United Nations (UN) define a refugee under the 1951 Refugee Convention as a person who, "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of their nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of that country." However, the recent 49 white South Africans who have flown to the US have been deemed not to fall under this category. The UN's definition of a refugee is widely accepted in international law and forms the basis of refugee protection globally. The key components of this definition are 'well-founded fear' and 'persecution.' Importantly, it is not enough for someone to simply be fleeing general hardship or economic difficulty. They must show that they have a genuine fear of persecution based on specific grounds such as their ethnicity, religion, or political beliefs and that their government is either unwilling or unable to protect them. Additionally, the definition also implies that refugees cross international borders. People who are displaced within their own country are considered internally displaced persons (IDPs), not refugees. The 1951 Convention was originally limited to protecting European refugees after World War II, but the 1967 Protocol removed these geographic and time limits, extending the Convention's protections globally. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is the primary UN body responsible for the protection and assistance of refugees. Recognition as a refugee affords individuals certain rights under international law, including the right not to be forcibly returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom (a principle known as non-refoulement), access to basic services, and eventually the opportunity for resettlement or integration. The refugee definition remains central to debates on asylum, border control, and humanitarian obligations in an increasingly turbulent global landscape. From 2020 to 2025, the UNHCR has identified several major refugee populations resulting from conflicts, persecution, and humanitarian crises. 1. Syrian refugees Displacement: Over 6.5 million Syrians have fled the country, with an additional 6.8 million internally displaced. Causes: The protracted civil war, ongoing since 2011, has led to widespread violence, destruction, and humanitarian crises. 2. Ukrainian refugees Displacement: Approximately 6.3 million Ukrainians have sought refuge abroad, with 3.7 million internally displaced. Causes: The full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation in February 2022 triggered one of the fastest and largest displacement crises since World War II. 3. Afghan refugees Displacement: Around 2.7 million Afghans have been displaced across borders. Causes: Decades of conflict, culminating in the Taliban's return to power in 2021, have led to ongoing instability and humanitarian needs. 4. Venezuelan refugees and migrants Displacement: Nearly 8 million Venezuelans have fled the country. Causes: Economic collapse, political instability, and lack of access to basic services have driven mass migration. 5. Sudanese refugees Displacement: Over 10.8 million people have been displaced due to conflict. Causes: Armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023 has led to widespread displacement. 6. South Sudanese refugees Displacement: Approximately 2.4 million people have fled South Sudan. Causes: Prolonged conflict, intercommunal violence, and environmental challenges have contributed to displacement. 7. Rohingya refugees (Myanmar) Displacement: More than 1.3 million Rohingya have been displaced since 2017. Causes: Persecution and violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar. 8. Ethiopian refugees Displacement: Significant displacement due to conflict, particularly in the Tigray region. Causes: Armed conflict and humanitarian crises have led to internal and cross-border displacement. 9. Yemeni refugees Displacement: Yemen hosts approximately 97,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, mainly from Somalia and Ethiopia. Causes: Prolonged conflict, economic collapse, and humanitarian crises have led to internal displacement and limited cross-border movement. 10. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) refugees Displacement: The DRC has experienced significant internal displacement due to ongoing conflict. Causes: Armed conflict and insecurity have led to large-scale displacement within the country. IOL Politics Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
IOL News
10-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
SA criticises US receiving Afrikaners
More than 50 Afrikaners have reportedly been granted asylum in the US and will be leaving South Africa on Monday. Image: Marco Longari / AFP South Africa's ministry of International Relations and Cooperation says the resettlement of South Africans in the United States under the guise of being 'refugees' is entirely politically motivated and designed to question South Africa's constitutional democracy. It has been reported that officials from the Departments of State and Homeland Security in the US will be welcoming from Monday the arrival of 54 white Afrikaners in Washington DC. They have been granted refugee status. US President Donald Trump suspended the US refugee settlement programme in January, on his first day in office, leaving more than 100 000 people approved for resettlement stranded, having fled war and persecution in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan. However, in February, Trump signed an executive order directing his government to grant refugee status to Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch and French colonisers who he claimed were discriminated against. In a report in the New York Times in March, the Trump administration was establishing a program called 'Mission South Africa' to help white Afrikaners from South Africa to go to the United States. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation confirmed that Deputy Minister Alvin Botes held a cordial discussion with the United States deputy secretary of state, Christopher Landau, on Friday. In a statement issued by the department, it said the discussion follows engagements via the diplomatic channels where in the government expressed concerns with the information conveyed that the US had commenced processing alleged refugees from South Africa and will begin resettling these citizens in the US. "We reiterate that allegations of discrimination are unfounded. The South African Police Service statistics on farm-related crimes do not support allegations of violent crime targeted at farmers generally or any particular race. There are sufficient structures available within South Africa to address concerns of discrimination. Moreover, even if there are allegations of discrimination, it is our view that these do not meet the threshold of persecution required under domestic and international refugee law. "It is most regrettable that it appears that the resettlement of South Africans to the United States under the guise of being 'refugees' is entirely politically motivated and designed to question South Africa's constitutional democracy," said the statement. It further stated that whilst South Africa challenges the US' assessments of alleged refugee status, it will not block citizens who seek to depart the country from doing so, as it also observes their right of freedom of movement and freedom of choice, specifically the right to leave the country. 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 ✕ Through the diplomatic channels, the foreign ministry has sought the status of persons that will be departing, whether as asylum seekers, refugees or ordinary citizens; and assurances as to whether the persons have been appropriately vetted by competent South African authorities to ensure that they do not have any outstanding criminal cases pending against them, amongst others.
The Citizen
21-04-2025
- The Citizen
Inside South Africa's wildlife CSI school helping to catch poachers
South Africa faces an acute poaching crisis, with more than 10 000 rhinos killed since 2007. Students in hazmat suits move around 'Frikkie', a taxidermied rhino at the 'crime scene' set up in the warehouse of the Wildlife Forensic Academy in the Buffelsfontein Game and Nature Reserve near Cape Town, on 16 April 2025. Picture: AFP / Marco Longari The rhino lay frozen in the sand, its grey legs stiff, glassy eyes open, horn crudely sawed off. A dead giraffe slumped nearby and a lion's twisted body to the right – a tableau of devastation. Three figures in white hazmat suits tip-toed through the dust, marking every footprint. They were not first responders to another poaching tragedy, but students at South Africa's Wildlife Forensic Academy, a training centre aiming to fight poaching by teaching investigation skills to rangers, conservation officers and law enforcement. Set inside a sunny warehouse in a private game reserve an hour north of Cape Town, the simulated carnage is staged with taxidermised animals, including rhino 'Frikkie' who was poached a few years ago. ALSO READ: Mozambican man sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for rhino poaching in SA 'The first people who arrive at the crime scene are absolutely crucial,' said Phil Snijman, a former prosecutor and trainer at the academy. 'They are the ones who will secure the crime scene. In the absence of the necessary training… that might lead to losing a lot of your available evidence,' he said, putting the last touches to an elaborate scene leading the students to a poacher's house in a corner of the warehouse. South Africa faces an acute poaching crisis, with more than 10 000 rhinos killed since 2007, according to the International Rhino Foundation. Yet only 36 cases were convicted in court in 2023, according to government figures, in the year almost 500 of the stocky animals were killed. 'Entire species disappearing' Killings of other species that receive less attention like reptiles and vultures, are even less likely to be prosecuted, said Snijman. 'Police aren't always available to come out, especially for a remote crime scene,' he said. That gap in justice is something Wendy Willson, a former police trainer and conservationist, sees often. The legal head at Johannesburg's Wildlife Veterinary Hospital said cases of wildlife crime seldom make it to court, and 'when they are actually prosecuted, we often end with a lenient sentence'. READ MORE: Minister applauds sentence of foreign national for rhino poacher, warns of locals being bribed Willson, who is unaffiliated with the Wildlife Forensic Academy, has dedicated herself to 'seeking justice for the little creatures' that don't draw public concern like rhinos and elephants. 'We are in a crisis where we are losing so many of our small animals. Entire species are completely disappearing, and nobody even knows about it,' she told AFP. While 'having rangers understand the importance of the chain of custody is very important,' she said, it is only one of many challenges to prosecuting wildlife crime – which include law enforcement resources, community support and prosecutors' awareness of the crimes. No silver bullet Back at the academy, Mari-Su de Villiers – wearing a mask and blue plastic gloves – carefully laid down yellow markers next to each footprint surrounding Frikkie. At 28, she works to protect endangered African wild dogs – but it was a case of animal poisoning, and the help of a trained colleague, that led her to the academy. 'They helped our team know what evidence to look out for, anything that seems out of place in a natural environment,' she told AFP. Since opening in 2022, the academy has trained over 500 people but only 89 have been rangers, investigators, or conservation officers like De Villiers. READ MORE: Rhino attack in KZN leaves one person critically injured Much of the intake comes from European students, admits Snijman, noting that their fees help fund sponsorships for local rangers. Improving the way evidence is gathered, especially forensic material that can stand up in court, will lead to more convictions and serve as a deterrent to future crimes, said Snijman. 'One would hope that you don't need an academy like this because there isn't any wildlife crime out there. 'This is not a perfect solution, but it is a small part of the bigger picture,' he sighed, before returning to the dead rhino to imprint his footprints in the sand.
