Latest news with #Msibi
Eyewitness News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Diepkloof residents threaten to resume demonstration if CoJ doesn't meet demands
Diepkloof residents said they've heard the city's explanations about private land deals and R8 million price tags, but if nothing changes soon, they'll be back on the streets. They say they're not just fighting for houses but now, for the memory of those who died. ALSO READ: Diepkloof protest: Driver of looted truck cooperates with police Some describe the scenes from Monday as a tragedy and a tipping point. Community leader Sanele Msibi said, "But for now we have suspended our protest action, but if government doesn't do what they must do, we will carry on. We don't have a choice, we will carry on," said Msibi.
The South African
12-05-2025
- The South African
Catching private flights: How SA 'refugees' left the country
The United States (US) is set to receive the very first group of South African Afrikaner refugees, after they departed SA on Sunday evening, 11 May. The group, made up of 49 white South Africans, boarded a private plane which arrived from Texas, to transport the refugees to their new home. According to IOL , the national Department of Transport (DOT) revealed that an application for a permit for this chartered airplane was recently approved by the International Air Services Council. A spokesperson for the DOT, Collen Msibi, who was also at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday night, revealed to Newzroom Afrika that a strict process was followed for the airplane to be permitted into South Africa, and it would continue to be monitored as it makes its way to the US. Msibi also said that a number of aspects was checked by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) before the plane could enter SA, including the technical provisions of the flight being used, as well as a proper check on the documentation of the crew members. The operator of the plane also had to submit a flight plan to the Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) in order to alert the relevant authorities of the private plane coming into South Africa's air space from the US. 'That was done and they are quite aware of what is happening. This flight comes from Texas and it went through Dakar (Senegal), and to OR Tambo International Airport. As it takes off, it is gonna go the same route – OR Tambo, Dakar, Washington DC then back to Texas. Basically that is the route that they are taking,' Msibi said, as per IOL. 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.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
White South Africans leave for US under Trump refugee plan
White South Africans leave for US under Trump refugee plan (Photo: AP) The first white South Africans granted refugee status under a program initiated by US President Donald Trump departed from Johannesburg on Sunday. A reporter for news agency Reuters described seeing a queue of white citizens with airport trolleys full of luggage waiting to have their passports stamped before they entered the departure lounge. The US-funded charter plane held 49 passengers, according to a South African transport ministry spokesperson Collen Msibi. "The application for the permit [to land] said it's the Afrikaners who are relocating to the USA as refugees," Msibi said. Afrikaners are a white ethnic minority, largely descended from Dutch, German and French settlers. Afrikaner leaders ruled South Africa during the brutal apartheid regime of racial segregation that often saw the violent repression of Black South Africans. Afrikaners make up nearly 60% of South Africa's white population. Msibi added that the plane was scheduled to fly to Dulles Airport outside Washington and then on to Texas. US broadcaster NPR reported earlier in the week that 12 states that had agreed to take in the Afrikaners, some of whom have family in the US. Why has Trump offered asylum to white South Africans? Trump, along with his South African-born advisor and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, have been vocal about what they claim is persecution of white South Africans by the country's Black majority. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around in 2025 Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo This is despite Afrikaners remaining one of the most privileged races in South Africa since apartheid ended 30 years ago. White South Africans make up around 7% of the country's population. But they still own some 78% of private farmland in South Africa and have about 20 times the wealth of Black South Africans. Trump signed an executive order in early February that offers resettlement to "Afrikaner refugees" who face "government-sponsored race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation." This is a reference to a South African land expropriation law that Trump believes will lead to the confiscation of white-owned farms. South Africa's new law is supposed to redress inequalities entrenched under the former apartheid system. How many Afrikaners are migrating to the US? In March, the US State Department said it had received some 8,000 inquires by white South Africans for resettlement. As many as 1,000 Afrikaners could be admitted to the United States this year, the Trump administration said. South African transport ministry spokesperson Msibi said his department hadn't received any other application for further resettlement flights. The rapid pathway for resettlement offered to Afrikaners is in stark contrast to the normal refugee process, which can take years. The Trump administration has also stopped virtually all other refugee admissions under an executive order signed by Trump as one of his first acts as president.
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
How the chartered flight for Afrikaner refugees to the United States was approved
The national Department of Transport said an application for a permit for a chartered airplane which arrived on Sunday to ferry South African Afrikaner refugees to the United States was approved by the International Air Services Council. On Sunday night, the plane carrying 49 South African Afrikaners departed for the United States under US President Donald Trump's offer for the 'discriminated' South African individuals and families to relocate. Spokesperson for the Department of Transport, Collen Msibi, was at OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park on Sunday night. He told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that a stringent process was followed for the airplane to be permitted into South Africa, and it would be monitored as it makes its way to the US. 'First of all, the reason I am here is that there was an application lodged with the council, which is the International Air Services Council. That was lodged on May 5, so we have had to take that application to the council. 'With that set of application, you have got to state a number of things, first is how many flights are involved, how many passengers are we talking about and the route that you will be taking. All that information was contained, but most of all it was the reason. It was stated quite clearly that this is for the Afrikaners who are relocating to the US as refugees," he said. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Msibi said the council, as an independent body, subsequently approved the permit which is called the foreign operators permit. He said a number of aspects, including the technical provisions of the flight being used, which were checked by the Civil Aviation Authority. The process also includes a thorough check on the documentation of the crew members. 'That was taken to the council, hence the application was approved. We are talking of about 49 people from what I saw in terms of those who are going to be on this particular flight,' he said. On Sunday night, Msibi said the flight was scheduled to depart at 8 pm. The plane operator had an obligation to submit a flight plan to the Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) to alert the authorities of the plane coming into South Africa's air space. 'That was done and they are quite aware of what is happening. This flight comes from Texas and it went through Dakar (Senegal), and to OR Tambo International Airport. As it takes off, it is gonna go the same route - OR Tambo, Dakar, Washington DC then back to Texas. Basically that is the route that they are taking,' he said. 'As they pass all these stations, they need to report to the ATNS in terms of their whereabouts. It is part of the mandate of the ATNS.'
Los Angeles Times
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
First group of 49 white South Africans leaves for U.S. with refugee status under Trump plan
CAPE TOWN, South Africa — A group of 49 white South Africans departed their homeland Sunday for the United States on a private charter plane, having been offered rare refugee status by the Trump administration. The group, which included families and small children, was due to arrive at Dulles International Airport outside Washington on Monday morning, according to Collen Msibi, a spokesperson for South Africa's Transport Ministry. They are the first Afrikaners — a white minority group in South Africa — to be relocated after President Trump issued an executive order on Feb. 7 accusing South Africa's Black-led government of racial discrimination against them and announcing a program to offer them relocation in the United States. The South African government said it is 'completely false' that Afrikaners are being persecuted. The Trump administration has fast-tracked their applications while pausing other refugee programs, halting arrivals from Afghanistan, Iraq, most of sub-Saharan Africa and other countries in a move being challenged in court. Refugee groups have questioned why the white South Africans are being prioritized ahead of people from countries racked by war and natural disasters. Vetting for refugee status in the U.S. often takes years. The Trump administration accuses the South African government of pursuing racist, anti-white policies through affirmative action laws and a land expropriation law it says targets Afrikaners' property. South Africa says those claims are based on misinformation and there is no racism against Afrikaners and no land has been expropriated, although the law is the focus of criticism in the country. South Africa also denies U.S. claims that Afrikaners are being targeted in racially motivated attacks in some rural communities. The government said Afrikaners — who are the descendants of Dutch and French colonial settlers — are 'amongst the most economically privileged' in the country. The first Afrikaner refugees were traveling on a flight operated by the Tulsa, Okla.-based charter company Omni Air International, Msibi said. They will fly to Dakar, Senegal, where the plane will refuel before heading for Dulles, he said. They departed from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, where they were accompanied by police officers and airport officials when they checked in. Msibi said they would have to be vetted by police to ensure there were no criminal cases or outstanding warrants against them before being allowed to leave. The South African government said there was no justification for them being relocated, but said it wouldn't stop them and respected their freedom of choice. They are expected to be greeted at Dulles by a U.S. government delegation, including the deputy secretary of State and officials from the Department of Health and Human Services, whose refugee office has organized their resettlement. The flight will be the first in a 'much larger-scale relocation effort,' White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told reporters Friday. Miller said that what was happening to Afrikaners in South Africa 'fits the textbook definition of why the refugee program was created.' 'This is persecution based on a protected characteristic — in this case, race. This is race-based persecution,' he said. The HHS Office for Refugee Resettlement was ready to offer them support, including with housing, furniture and other household items, and expenses like groceries, clothing, diapers and more, a document obtained by the Associated Press said. The document said the relocation of Afrikaners was 'a stated priority of the Administration.' There are around 2.7 million Afrikaners among South Africa's population of 62 million, which is more than 80% Black. They are only one part of the country's white minority. Many in South Africa are puzzled by claims that Afrikaners are persecuted and meet the requirements to be relocated as refugees. They are part of South Africa's everyday multiracial life, with many successful business leaders and some serving in government as Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers. Their language is widely spoken and recognized as an official language, and churches and other institutions reflecting Afrikaner culture hold prominence in almost every city and town. The Trump administration has criticized South Africa on several fronts. Trump's February executive order cut all U.S. funding to South Africa over what it said was its anti-white stance and also accused it of pursuing an anti-American foreign policy. It cited South Africa's ties with Iran and its move to lodge a genocide case against U.S. ally Israel over the war in Gaza as examples of it taking 'aggressive positions towards the United States.' Imray writes for the Associated Press.
