Latest news with #Saccusa
Daily Maverick
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
SA Chamber of Commerce in the USA ‘aims to strengthen ties between the countries'
In an age where public narratives are often shaped by snippets, headlines and interpretations, I feel compelled to provide a fuller account of the work I do and the principles that guide me. I do so in response to a recent article in Daily Maverick titled, 'Neil Diamond, the man with a list of 67,000 Afrikaner refugee wannabes, is an old ANC comrade.' The South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA (Saccusa) is a non-partisan, independent organisation committed to strengthening economic, trade and investment ties between South Africa and the United States. It was originally established in New York in the mid-80s by expats who worked for South African companies in the United States. For several years, I have been privileged to lead Saccusa. Our mission is grounded in a belief that collaboration, not conflict, is the best path to opportunity for entrepreneurs, professionals and communities across both countries. The recent portrayal of my work and affiliations, particularly in this publication, does not reflect the reality or the intent of what Saccusa represents. Instead of offering readers a balanced view, it framed my role through a limited and often politically coloured lens, suggesting that associations with certain individuals imply allegiance or intent. This is simply not the case. As part of my duties, I interact with a broad spectrum of leaders, government officials, ministers, diplomats, entrepreneurs and civil society figures across political and ideological lines. These interactions are not endorsements; they are part of a necessary and constructive process of economic diplomacy. Saccusa does not operate along political fault lines. Our work is focused on commercial outcomes, policy engagement and bridging a gap that exists due to the absence of formal South African trade representation in the United States. It is unfortunate that, instead of highlighting the broader impact of our work, such as supporting access to Agoa, facilitating bilateral dialogues and promoting investment in job-creating industries, recent coverage has chosen to focus almost entirely on historic episodes, without reference to the progress or contributions made since. Public service, business and leadership in the diaspora space are never one-dimensional. Like so many South Africans, my journey has included its share of both triumphs and lessons. What has remained consistent is my commitment to purpose, to professionalism and to leaving a meaningful impact wherever I have the opportunity to serve. The article misrepresents key facts about me, painting an inaccurate picture of my affiliations and business dealings, and represents them in a way that suggests impropriety on my part and omits crucial facts. Furthermore, the article greatly distorts and/or inaccurately records the chronology of events insofar as it relates to my personal and/or public endeavours, in what one can perceive as an attempt to revive matters that have been conclusively adjudicated in the appropriate legal forums. My public service and/or endeavours do not diminish my right to protect my reputation. Any assertion to the contrary is deceptive. I do not write this piece in anger, but with the hope that it creates space for greater fairness. The story of economic diplomacy between South Africa and the United States is not a personal story, it is a national imperative. It deserves to be told in its full context, without omission or distortion, and with the public interest as its guiding light. As President of Saccusa, I remain committed to building partnerships that uplift businesses, connect communities, and restore confidence in the potential of international collaboration. I hope that we can move beyond character judgments and instead focus on the real work at hand, bridging economies, generating opportunity and representing South African excellence on the global stage. DM
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Almost 70,000 South Africans interested in US asylum
Close to 70,000 South Africans have expressed interest in moving to the US following Washington's offer to resettle people from the country's Afrikaner community, a business group has said. The South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA (Saccusa) said its website received tens of thousands of registrations from those seeking more information. In a February executive order, President Donald Trump said Afrikaners - descendants of mainly Dutch settlers who arrived in the 17th Century - could be admitted as refugees as they were "victims of unjust racial discrimination". Relations between the US and South Africa have become increasingly strained since Trump became president in January. Saccusa said that in a "pivotal step", it has handed the list of interested individuals to the US embassy in Pretoria. An embassy official confirmed to the BBC that it had received the list. Out of the 67,042 people who registered on Saccusa's site, most had Afrikaner or English names, the organisation's president, Neil Diamond, said. Saccussa - a group representing South African businesspeople living in the US - said most of those who expressed interest in migrating were aged between 25 and 45 and had between two and three dependants. The US-based business group is not an official government body, but got involved in the registering of interest by accident after it was inundated with requests for more information about resettlement, Mr Diamond told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika. The expelled envoy at the heart of the latest US-South Africa row Race policies or Israel - what's really driving Trump's fury with South Africa? Some white South Africans say they are discriminated against, a claim that has caught the attention of right-wing groups in the US. Simultaneously, South Africa's white minority possess the vast majority of privately held land and wealth in the country, more than 30 years since the racist system of apartheid ended. Tensions between South Africa and the US spiked in January, when South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law a bill allowing the state to seize land without compensation, provided it was in the "public interest". The move followed years of calls for land reform, with activists and politicians seeking to redistribute farmland from the white minority. In response to the new law, Trump signed the executive order offering refugee status to Afrikaners who were "escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination". In March, Trump extended the invitation to all farmers in South Africa, which he called "a bad place to be right now". Last month, the president cut aid to the country. Ramaphosa responded to Trump's criticisms by saying South Africa has not seized any land and that the new bill ensures "public access to land in an equitable and just manner as guided by the constitution". Regardless, the spat between the two countries has worsened. Last week the US expelled South Africa's ambassador to Washington, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio describing him as a "race-baiting politician". Trade, aid, security: What does Trump's win mean for Africa? The groups playing on the fears of a 'white genocide' Ghosts of apartheid haunt South Africa as compensation anger brews Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
19-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
US-South Africa relations: Almost 70,000 South Africans reportedly interested in US asylum
Close to 70,000 South Africans have expressed interest in moving to the US following Washington's offer to resettle people from the country's Afrikaner community, a business group has said. The South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA (Saccusa) said its website received tens of thousands of registrations from those seeking more information. In a February executive order, President Donald Trump said Afrikaners - descendants of mainly Dutch settlers who arrived in the 17th Century - could be admitted as refugees as they were "victims of unjust racial discrimination".Relations between the US and South Africa have become increasingly strained since Trump became president in January. Saccusa said that in a "pivotal step", it has handed the list of interested individuals to the US embassy in embassy official confirmed to the BBC that it had received the of the 67,042 people who registered on Saccusa's site, most had Afrikaner or English names, the organisation's president, Neil Diamond, - a group representing South African businesspeople living in the US - said most of those who expressed interest in migrating were aged between 25 and 45 and had between two and three business group is not an official government body, but got involved in the registering of interest by accident after it was inundated with requests for more information about resettlement, Mr Diamond told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika. Some white South Africans say they are discriminated against, a claim that has caught the attention of right-wing groups in the South Africa's white minority possess the vast majority of privately held land and wealth in the country, more than 30 years since the racist system of apartheid between South Africa and the US spiked in January, when South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law a bill allowing the state to seize land without compensation, provided it was in the "public interest".The move followed years of calls for land reform, with activists and politicians seeking to redistribute farmland from the white response to the new law, Trump signed the executive order offering refugee status to Afrikaners who were "escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination".In March, Trump extended the invitation to all farmers in South Africa, which he called "a bad place to be right now".Last month, the president cut aid to the responded to Trump's criticisms by saying South Africa has not seized any land and that the new bill ensures "public access to land in an equitable and just manner as guided by the constitution".Regardless, the spat between the two countries has worsened. Last week the US expelled South Africa's ambassador to Washington, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio describing him as a "race-baiting politician". Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
