Latest news with #SolidarityMovement
The South African
a day ago
- Business
- The South African
'20% of Afrikaners have left SA' - Here's why...
More Afrikaners are choosing to leave South Africa and seek refugee status in the US. According to the Solidarity Movement, the migration of white South Africans has been an ongoing occurrence over a lack of employment opportunities. Last week, a second batch of the minority group left the country under the resettlement plan. Thousands more are expected to follow them. According to Solidarity Movement spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans, up to 8 000 white Afrikaners will take up refugee status in the US over the coming weeks. However, thousands more have left before them. He posted on his X account: '20% of Afrikaners have already left the country permanently or temporarily because they could not find work here. The white unemployment rate is completely skewed. 'Hundreds of thousands of Afrikaners have been pushed out of the formal labor market and have started their own businesses or emigrated. Like Kleynhans, many white South Africans believe 'race laws' harm their chances of employment. Jaco Kleynhans's claims about the white population – which includes Afrikaners – fall in line with statistics. According to a 2022 census, white South Africans made up 7.3% of the total population, which is about 4.5 million people. Of that, around 3 million are Afrikaners. Over the years, reports indicate the following decline in the white population 2011 – 9% 2016 – 8,1 % 2021 – 7,8 % Although stats reveal a dip in unemployment, the Commission for Employment Equity noted that white people still occupy 62,1% of top management level posts while Black people occupied 13.8% According to many recruitment agencies, many Afrikaners immigrate to other countries for farm work opportunities abroad. 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
Are second batch of refugees ONLY white South Africans?
A second batch of South African 'refugees' has arrived in the US under President Donald Trump's resettlement programme. The offer is open to all 'racial minorities' in South Africa, including Afrikaners, who believe they have been persecuted. But do the numbers reflect that? According to reports, a second batch of 'refugees' arrived in the US last week. The group consists of nine white South Africans and their families. Jaco Kleynhans, of the Afrikaner rights group Solidarity Movement, claimed that the group travelled on a commercial flight. While it's not clear if other races will be included in the group, there has been speculation that many Afrikaners will be part of the programme. Kleynhans told the media: 'Several more groups will fly to the USA over the next few weeks. The US Embassy in Pretoria, in collaboration with the State Department in Washington DC, is currently processing 8,000 applications. And we expect many more Afrikaner refugees to travel to the USA over the next few months. 'They are settling in states across the USA, but particularly southern states such as Texas, North and South Carolina, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska.' He continued: 'Our primary focus is not refugee status for Afrikaners. But rather to find ways to ensure a free, safe, and prosperous future for Afrikaners in South Africa. We remain 100% convinced that South Africa can and must create a home for all its people.' While many Afrikaners and white South Africans have seemingly been prioritised in the group, other smaller communities are also welcome to apply for refugee status in the US. Last month, the US Embassy issued a statement detailing the resettlement programme, which was extended to 'racial minorities' in South Africa. Despite initially being targeted at Afrikaner farmers and white people, US authorities have since included coloured, Indian, and 'mixed-race' South Africans. Applicants must prove that they are 'persecuted' South Africans who are victims of 'racial discrimination'. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African web
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
More white South Africans resettle in US after Trump fast-tracks ‘refugee program'
A second group of white South Africans has arrived in the United States as part of a refugee programme initiated by the Trump administration, according to officials and advocacy groups. Jaco Kleynhans, head of international liaison at the Solidarity Movement, which represents South Africa's white Afrikaner minority, confirmed that nine individuals, including families and children, arrived late last week via a commercial flight. A US Embassy spokesperson told reporters via email that "refugees continue to arrive in the United States from South Africa on commercial flights as part of the Afrikaner resettlement program's ongoing operations." This follows an initial group of 59 white South Africans who arrived at Dulles International Airport in Virginia last month on a chartered flight. The resettlement programme was announced by US President Donald Trump in February, with his administration expediting the process for white South Africans while suspending other US refugee programmes indefinitely. The Trump administration said it is offering refugee status to white South Africans it alleges are being persecuted by their Black-led government and are victims of racially motivated violence. The South African government has denied the allegations and said they are a mischaracterization of the country. Trump has falsely claimed that white South African farmers are targeted in widespread attacks that amount to genocide and are having their land taken away. Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with those baseless claims during a meeting at the White House last month. Ramaphosa has said the relatively small number of attacks on white farmers are part of South Africa's larger problems with violent crime, which affects all races. The Trump administration initially said the refugee program was aimed at members of South Africa's Afrikaner minority, who are descendants of mainly Dutch and French colonial settlers. In new guidance published by the US Embassy last month, applicants must be 'a member of a racial minority' in South Africa and 'must be able to articulate a past experience of persecution or fear of future persecution.' There are approximately 2.7 million Afrikaners among South Africa's population of 62 million, which is more than 80% Black. They are not the only white minority. There are around 4.5 million whites in total, including those with British or other heritage. The US Embassy spokesperson said the US 'continues to review inquiries from individuals who have expressed interest to the embassy in resettling to the United States and is reaching out to eligible individuals for refugee interviews and processing." While US officials have not said how many South Africans have applied to be relocated, Kleynhans said there have been around 8,000 applications. Another group helping white South Africans apply for refugee status has said tens of thousands have applied.
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
More white South Africans resettle in US after Trump fast-tracks ‘refugee program'
A second group of white South Africans has arrived in the United States as part of a refugee programme initiated by the Trump administration, according to officials and advocacy groups. Jaco Kleynhans, head of international liaison at the Solidarity Movement, which represents South Africa 's white Afrikaner minority, confirmed that nine individuals, including families and children, arrived late last week via a commercial flight. A US Embassy spokesperson told reporters via email that "refugees continue to arrive in the United States from South Africa on commercial flights as part of the Afrikaner resettlement program's ongoing operations." This follows an initial group of 59 white South Africans who arrived at Dulles International Airport in Virginia last month on a chartered flight. The Trump administration said it is offering refugee status to white South Africans it alleges are being persecuted by their Black-led government and are victims of racially motivated violence. The South African government has denied the allegations and said they are a mischaracterization of the country. Trump has falsely claimed that white South African farmers are targeted in widespread attacks that amount to genocide and are having their land taken away. Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with those baseless claims during a meeting at the White House last month. Ramaphosa has said the relatively small number of attacks on white farmers are part of South Africa's larger problems with violent crime, which affects all races. The Trump administration initially said the refugee program was aimed at members of South Africa's Afrikaner minority, who are descendants of mainly Dutch and French colonial settlers. In new guidance published by the US Embassy last month, applicants must be 'a member of a racial minority' in South Africa and 'must be able to articulate a past experience of persecution or fear of future persecution.' There are approximately 2.7 million Afrikaners among South Africa's population of 62 million, which is more than 80% Black. They are not the only white minority. There are around 4.5 million whites in total, including those with British or other heritage. The US Embassy spokesperson said the US 'continues to review inquiries from individuals who have expressed interest to the embassy in resettling to the United States and is reaching out to eligible individuals for refugee interviews and processing." While US officials have not said how many South Africans have applied to be relocated, Kleynhans said there have been around 8,000 applications. Another group helping white South Africans apply for refugee status has said tens of thousands have applied.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
More white South Africans arrive in US as new refugee programme begins
A second group of white South Africans has arrived in the United States under a refugee programme announced by the Trump administration, officials and advocacy groups said Monday. Nine people, including families and children, arrived late last week, said Jaco Kleynhans, head of international liaison at the Solidarity Movement, a group representing members of South Africa's white Afrikaner minority. The group travelled on a commercial flight, he said. A spokesperson for the US Embassy said in an email to The Associated Press that refugees continue to arrive in the United States from South Africa on commercial flights as part of the Afrikaner resettlement programme's ongoing operations. An initial group of 59 white South Africans arrived at Dulles International Airport in Virginia on a chartered flight last month under the new programme announced by US President Donald Trump in February. The Trump administration fast-tracked the resettlement of white South Africans after indefinitely suspending other US refugee programmes. The Trump administration said it is offering refugee status to white South Africans it alleges are being persecuted by their Black-led government and are victims of racially motivated violence. The South African government has denied the allegations and said they are a mischaracterisation of the country. Trump has falsely claimed that white South African farmers are targeted in widespread attacks that amount to genocide and are having their land taken away. Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with those baseless claims during a meeting at the White House last month. Ramaphosa has said the relatively small number of attacks on white farmers are part of South Africa's larger problems with violent crime, which affects all races. The Trump administration initially said the refugee programme was aimed at members of South Africa's Afrikaner minority, who are descendants of mainly Dutch and French colonial settlers. In new guidance published by the US Embassy last month, applicants must be a member of a racial minority in South Africa and must be able to articulate a past experience of persecution or fear of future persecution. There are approximately 2.7 million Afrikaners among South Africa's population of 62 million, which is more than 80 per cent Black. They are not the only white minority. There are around 4.5 million whites in total, including those with British or other heritage. The US Embassy spokesperson said the US continues to review inquiries from individuals who have expressed interest to the embassy in resettling to the United States and is reaching out to eligible individuals for refugee interviews and processing". While US officials have not said how many South Africans have applied to be relocated, Kleynhans said there have been around 8,000 applications. Another group helping white South Africans apply for refugee status has said tens of thousands have applied.
