WeeklySA_AdminRIDDLE: Resettlement programme under the guise of being ‘refugees’ entirely politically motivated and designed to question the country’s constitutional democracy, argues Dirco
By Victoria O’Regan
In a call with the US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau today, International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Alvin Botes challenged the assertion that Afrikaners qualify for refugee status, calling the allegations of discrimination against the group “unfounded”.
“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 (SA’s) constitutional democracy; a country which has in fact suffered true persecution under apartheid rule and has worked tirelessly to prevent such levels of discrimination from ever occurring again, including through the entrenchment of rights in our Constitution, which is enforced vigorously through our judicial system. “In addition, it is not clear how the principle of non-refoulement will be applied in relation to these citizens once they are resettled,” said Botes, according to a statement issued by the Department International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) this evening.
Dirco said the conversation between Botes and Landau followed engagements via diplomatic channels where Pretoria had expressed concerns with information conveyed that Washington had begun processing alleged refugees from SA to resettle them in the US.
Today, The New York Times reported that US President Donald Trump’s administration is planning to bring the first group of white South Africans it has classified as refugees to the US as early as next week.
Although Trump halted nearly all other refugee admissions shortly after returning to the White House in January, the publication reported his administration has quickly put together a programme to allow white Afrikaners, who claim to be victims of government-sponsored, race-based discrimination, to be accepted in the US.
The Trump administration plans to send US government officials to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia for an event marking the arrival of 54 Afrikaners to the US on Monday, according to The New York Times report.
Diplomatic ties between Pretoria and Washington have deteriorated significantly since Trump’s return to the White House.
In February this year, the US president ordered that all US foreign assistance to SA be halted and that his administration promote the resettlement of “Afrikaner refugees escaping government-sponsored, race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation” in SA.
In an executive order, titled “Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa”, Trump accused the South African government of, under the Expropriation Act, seizing “ethnic minority Afrikaners” agricultural property without compensation”, a claim Pretoria has repeatedly denied.
According to The New York Times report, soon after announcing that Afrikaners are eligible for refugee status, the Trump administration deployed teams to Pretoria to vet white South Africans for consideration, according to documents seen by the publication.
Of more than 8 000 requests from people who were interested in becoming refugees studied by the teams, the US government identified 100 Afrikaners who potentially could be approved, the report added. “South Africa acknowledges that the determination of refugee status requires a factual assessment in light of the prevailing circumstances, having due regard for both subjective and objective factors,” said Botes.
“We reiterate that allegations of discrimination are unfounded. The South Africa Police Services (SAPS) 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,” he said.
“Through progressive judgements from the South African courts, particularly the Constitutional Court, our state has demonstrated a principled commitment to protect minorities and vulnerable groups, this shows the extent to which South Africa is working towards a country in which every citizen is free and protected.”
Botes said that through the diplomatic channels, Dirco had sought the status of people who would be departing, whether as asylum seekers, refugees or ordinary citizens; and assurances that they have been appropriately vetted by competent South African authorities to ensure that they do not have any outstanding criminal cases against them.
However, he added that while SA challenges the US’ assessment 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, as contained in Section 21(2) of the Constitution.” – Fullview
Mirror Briefs
ATM LASHES AT COURT
The recent ruling of the Constitutional Court to declare Section 6 (1) (a) of the Citizenship Act unconstitutional, was nothing short of a betrayal of South Africa’s sovereignty and was tantamount to allowing dual citizenship without restrictions.
This is according to the African Transformation Movement (ATM) which decried what it deemed a “reckless decision” by the Constitutional Court to declare this Section of the Citizenship Act unconstitutional. In terms of this provision, South African citizens lost their citizenship automatically if they voluntarily acquired citizenship in another country, unless they had prior permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
ATM national spokesperson, Zama Ntshona, also said the Constitutional Court did not put South African citizens first when taking this decision. “What the Constitutional Court has done, is to allow people that have sworn allegiance to a foreign country to enjoy full rights of a South African, including occupying public office. The Constitutional Court’s decision has not only misjudged this matter but has crossed a line, trampling on the will of the people and what is in their best interest. ‘’By striking down this law the court has set a dangerous precedent, one that seeks to erode our national identity and leaving us exposed to foreign influences that could undermine our hard-won freedom.” – SABC News.
OMOTOSO ARRESTED AGAIN
Nigerian televangelist, Timothy Omotoso, who was recently acquitted on 32 sexual assault-related charges , has been re-arrested, the police in Eastern Cape has confirmed.
Police National spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, confirmed the arrest, saying Home Affairs would communicate the arrest of Omotoso. “The Department of Home Affairs Immigration Inspectorate, together with the South African Police Service, arrested Omotoso in the town just after the church. He will be facing charges relating to the violation of the Immigration Act,” Mathe said.
He was being held at Mdantsane police station. The arrest happened just weeks after his acquittal on charges of rape, sexual assault and human trafficking. After spending eight years in jail, the Nigerian televangelist accused of raping young women from his church was not found not guilty of all charges. Omotoso had denied the 32 charges in a trial that gained huge interest across the country.
The NPA have since announced that it would “consider its legal options” including appealing the decision to acquit him on all counts.
Omotoso was dramatically arrested at an airport in 2017 when he was about to leave the country. His trial was the first prominent rape case to be broadcast live in a country where sexual violence was rampant. – Lehlohonolo Lehana.
JOSHLIN : JUDGMENT DAY SET
The three convicted offenders in the kidnapping and human trafficking case of missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith will be sentenced on May 29 this year, Judge Nathan Erasmus announced during pre-sentencing proceedings in the Western Cape High Court.
The three were RECENTLY found guilty of human trafficking and kidnapping . Joshlin’s mother, Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, and Steveno ‘Steffie” Van Rhyn were convicted following Joshlin’s disappearance on February 19, 2024 from the Middelpos informal settlement in Saldanha Bay.
Judge Erasmus outlined the next steps in the sentencing process and emphasised the importance of victim impact evidence and social worker reports. The State would also present victim impact evidence, which, in this case, would include the emotional and psychological toll on both Joshlin and the Diazville community.
The convicted trio would remain in custody at Pollsmoor Prison until May 23, when they are scheduled to return to the Western Cape High Court for a procedural appearance.
Subject to confirmation, sentencing proceedings would begin in Saldanha Bay on May 27, with evidence and arguments expected on May 27 and 28 and the sentencing set for May 29. – Lehlohonolo Lehana
POPCRU SLAMS CAMERON.
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has called on Parliament to consider removing Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police chairperson Ian Cameron, saying he demonstrated a “clear inability to execute his duties with impartiality and integrity”. This comes after Cameron publicly referred to the acquittal of Deputy President, Paul Mashatile’s eight members of the Presidential Protection Unit, as “thugs”.
The officers were filmed assaulting civilians on the N1 highway in 2023. Cameron said he was outraged by the acquittal of the eight South African Police Service VIP Protection Unit officers after an internal SAP disciplinary process. He said that not disciplining the eight for an assault on civilians in July 2023 was “not only a miscarriage of justice but also put the name and image of the SAPS into disrepute”.
Popcru president Thulani Ngwenya hit back, saying Cameron’s comments represented a gross misuse of his parliamentary oversight role and undermines the justice system.
“The union is deeply concerned that his politically biased statements endanger both the integrity of parliamentary oversight and the safety of police officers who already face immense pressure in their line of duty.”
“Cameron’s behaviour is reckless and unethical, especially as these officers have been cleared of wrongdoing through a due process’’. – Lehlohonolo Lehana.
