The US is preparing this week to receive its first batch of white Afrikaners from SA whom the Trump administration has designated as refugees.
The group is expected to arrive in the US on Monday, according to reports by US-based publication NPR. The group is expected to be met at the airport by “high-level officials from the departments of state and homeland security”, according to the report.
The move has raised the ire of the SA government. Deputy minister of international relations & co-operation, Alvin Botes, and his US counterpart Christopher Landau held discussions over the matter last week during which SA’s stance on the matter was reiterated.
“We reiterate that allegations of discrimination are unfounded. The SA Police Services’ 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 SA to address concerns of discrimination... It is most regrettable that it appears that the resettlement of South Africans to the US under the guise of being ‘refugees’ is entirely politically motivated and designed to question SA’s constitutional democracy,” the department of international relations & cooperation said in a statement.
International relations & co-operation minister Ronald Lamola is expected to briefly reiterate SA’s position on the matter on Monday during a media briefing outlining the progress of SA’s Group of 20 (G20) presidency. SA assumed the role of president of the G20 in December 2024, taking over from Brazil.
Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa will be on a working visit to Ivory Coast on Monday and will participate in the Africa CEO Forum, scheduled to take place in Abidjan.
“The president’s participation at the Africa CEO Forum will provide SA with an opportunity to consolidate its position as one of the leading investment destinations on the continent. Importantly, SA’s G20 presidency will further enhance the country’s visibility at the forum,” the presidency said.
Ramaphosa will be accompanied by mineral & petroleum resources minister Gwede Mantashe and electricity & energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa while the department of trade, industry & competition in collaboration with Brand SA, will host the “Invest SA” session on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum.
On Wednesday, by-elections will be held in ward 24 Soweto. The ANC, EFF and MK have all fielded candidates to contest the area which includes Freedom Park, Devland, Armadale, Motsoaledi and Diepkloof Hostel.
The previous councillor, who belonged to the ANC, was gunned down outside his home in the south of Joburg in February, leaving a vacancy. All three parties have over the past few weeks campaigned heavily in the highly contested area, deploying their top officials including the ANC’s secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, MK’s Floyd Shivambu and EFF leader Julius Malema to garner support ahead of the polls.
In parliament, the peace & security cluster of ministers will have a question-and-answer session in the National Council of Provinces and the committees in the National Assembly will consider reports from their corresponding departments.
On Tuesday, minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni will respond to questions on the new intelligence entities and crime syndicates while police minister Senzo Mchunu will respond to questions related to the state capture task team.
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