Donald Trump matters a lot to Mzansi and the rest of the world right now. Trump and his South African-born right-hand man, Elon Musk, are changing the way America works – and how the world’s most powerful country deals with the rest of the world.
We’ll track what they do and connect the dots to your daily life.
Trump opens door for Afrikaner resettlement in America
It’s official – the US is now actively working to bring Afrikaner South Africans to America as refugees.
The US Embassy just confirmed they’re reviewing applications and will contact people who’ve already applied. This isn’t just Trump talking anymore – it’s becoming real policy.
Trump claims South Africa is “confiscating” white farmers’ land “without compensation” after Ramaphosa signed the Expropriation Act. Most experts say this isn’t true, but that hasn’t stopped Trump from offering “a rapid pathway to citizenship” for these farmers.
About 1,500 Afrikaners have already gathered outside the US Embassy in Pretoria to thank Trump for his support.
Meanwhile, our government refuses to get into a shouting match with Trump, with Ramaphosa’s spokesperson saying South Africa won’t engage in “counterproductive megaphone diplomacy.”
The big question now: How many farmers will actually pack up and leave? And what would that mean for our farms, food security, and race relations?
Image source: File
Trump’s market panic and what it means for South Africa
By Dylan Bettencourt
The US stock market just took a nasty dive after Trump twice dodged questions about a recession.
Why should you care? Because when America sneezes, South Africa catches a cold. Trump’s chaos affects us directly:
– When global markets panic, the Rand usually weakens
– Weaker Rand = more expensive imports = higher prices at the shops
– Foreign investors get nervous about putting money in countries like ours
– Our exports become less valuable if America’s economy slows down
Trump admitted his policies might cause economic “pain” before things get better. His own team is now rushing to calm markets, promising there won’t be a recession.
For South Africans already struggling with high prices, Trump’s unpredictable style is the last thing we need.
The big question: Will Trump back down like he did with Canada and Mexico, or stick to his disruptive plans? Either way, as one expert warned: “Good luck in this challenging time.”
Image source: File
De Klerk foundation rejects Trump’s farmer ‘rescue’ plan
By Dylan Bettencourt
The FW de Klerk Foundation has rejected Trump’s offer to give US citizenship to white South African farmers.
Their message? Trump’s plan is based on “disinformation and cheap politics” with “no basis in truth.”
Christo van der Rheede put it simply: “The challenges we face in South Africa aren’t just white people’s problems. We’re all affected by crime, unemployment and bad policies.”
The Foundation warns that Trump’s actions will hurt South Africa’s economy and farming industry.
They also connect Trump’s move to the rise of “ethnic nationalism” worldwide, suggesting right-wing groups are using this to attack South Africa’s non-racial democracy established in 1994.
Meanwhile, our government won’t engage in “megaphone diplomacy” – choosing to ignore Trump’s social media outbursts rather than dignify them with a response.
Image source: File
Health Minister says Trump ‘doesn’t’ owe us a cent’
By Dylan Bettencourt
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said “Trump doesn’t owe South Africa any cent whatsoever” after the US president cut R8 billion in HIV/AIDS funding.
Instead of complaining, he called on South Africa to “stand on our own” and revealed he’s already talking to other donors like the Gates Foundation to replace Trump’s money.
EFF’s Malema had a different take, claiming the cuts are “Israel’s revenge” for South Africa’s support of Palestine. He also warned that land reform will continue “whether they like it or not.”
Motsoaledi couldn’t resist taking a jab at right-wing group Solidarity’s recent White House visit, distinguishing them from the COVID Solidarity Fund that’s helping fill funding gaps.
The bottom line for South Africans living with HIV? The political blame game won’t matter if someone doesn’t step up to save the program that employs 15,000 healthcare workers and keeps millions of patients alive.
Image source: @MYANC
Trump says ‘nobody has ever heard of’ Lesotho
Trump just took a cheap shot at our neighbor Lesotho in his Congress speech, calling it a country “nobody has ever heard of” while Republican lawmakers laughed along.
Why? He was defending his foreign aid cuts, specifically “$8 million for LGBTQI+” in Lesotho – though local LGBTQ groups say they never got this money.
Lesotho’s Foreign Minister is angry, calling the comments “shocking” and promising to send a formal protest to Washington.
The real impact? Lesotho has the world’s second-highest HIV rate, and Trump’s funding cuts threaten healthcare programs that people on both sides of the border rely on.
For South Africans, it’s perhaps a reminder of how Trump sees African nations – as jokes, not partners.
Image source: @POTUS
Zelenskyy folds after Trump cuts military aid
By Dylan Bettencourt
Trump just announced he’s got a letter from Zelenskyy saying Ukraine is “ready to come to the negotiating table” – quite the U-turn after last week’s White House showdown.
After getting his military aid cut off, Zelenskyy’s now saying he wants to “make things right” and is ready “any time and in any convenient format” to sign that minerals deal he previously walked away from.
Trump’s also claiming he’s had “serious discussions with Russia” and received “strong signals they’re ready for peace.”
For South Africans, this drama is worth watching closely. What happens when a superpower suddenly changes sides? We’re seeing countries that depend on American support scrambling to adjust.
In Trump’s world, yesterday’s allies can become today’s bargaining chips – a lesson that applies just as much to Pretoria as it does to Kyiv.
Image source: File
Trump leaves Ukraine stranded
By Dylan Bettencourt
Trump just pulled the plug on Ukraine’s military aid after publicly arguing with Zelenskyy. No more weapons, no more ammo – not even stuff that’s already on ships heading there.
It’s the same tactic he used when cutting South Africa’s HIV funding. One day you’ve got support, the next you don’t.
When Zelenskyy dared say peace might be “very, very far away,” Trump didn’t hold back: the Ukrainian president “won’t be around very long” unless he plays ball.
The message for countries like ours is crystal clear: in Trump’s world, you either give him what he wants or he’ll pull the rug out from under you – no warning, no negotiations.
So when South African ministers next fly to Washington, they’d better have more than just goodwill in their briefcases. In Trumpland, it’s deal or no deal.
Image source: File
Trump vs Zelensky fight in White House Smackdown
By Dylan Bettencourt
Trump and Ukraine’s president Zelenskyy argued live on TV and SA analyst Sandile Swana says it’s a whole new ballgame.
Gone are the days of friendly military aid. Trump’s message was crystal clear: “No minerals, no protection.” While Zelensky talked about friendship, Trump talked about business – leaving the Ukrainian leader visibly stunned.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Association of South Africa is urging us not to abandon Ukraine, warning that Putin won’t stop his expansion plans anytime soon.
Trump’s “my way or the highway” approach could be coming to an international relationship near you.
US ambassador quits as SA relations hit rock bottom
By Dylan Bettencourt
In the latest Trump-era shake-up, Dana Brown, America’s acting ambassador to South Africa, has suddenly resigned.
This exit happens just as relations hit rock bottom, with Trump cutting all funding to South Africa and offering refugee status to Afrikaner farmers.
The timing couldn’t be worse for South Africans. With no permanent US ambassador since January and Brown now leaving in March, our diplomatic channel to America is running on skeleton staff just when we need it most.
Meanwhile, Afrikaner lobby groups AfriForum and Solidarity flew to the White House seeking “humanitarian assistance” – a move Ramaphosa slammed as “sowing divisions.”
For ordinary South Africans, this diplomatic cold war threatens everything from healthcare funding to trade relations, showing how Trump’s personal politics directly impacts our national interests.
Image source: US Embassy
Trump axes USAID funding for HIV
By Dylan Bettencourt
Trump on Thursday pulled the plug on R8.1 billion in HIV funding, telling South African organisations to “immediately cease all activities.” He sent just letters saying the programs “aren’t aligned with Agency priorities.”
This isn’t just American politics – it’s about your friend, neighbour or family member who depends on these services. Some 8 million South Africans rely on HIV treatment programs, and these cuts threaten real lives in our communities.
While the government scrambles for a response, healthcare workers are losing jobs and vulnerable patients are left hanging. From sex workers to pregnant moms, the impact hits hardest on those who need help most.
As one health worker put it to Bhekisasa: “This isn’t just a funding cut – it’s a betrayal.”
Image source: File
Gauteng minister copies Elon Musk strategy
By Zukile Majova
The Gauteng health department is checking if all 85,642 people on its payroll are real workers who actually show up for work.
The department has already frozen the salaries of 66 workers who haven’t come forward to prove they exist.
Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko says her department can’t waste money paying ghost workers when hospitals need more staff and patients need care.
“We have limited resources at our disposal and cannot afford to waste money on ghost workers while hundreds of healthcare workers are looking for employment and thousands of people require access to healthcare services,” she said.
The department’s new Ziveze (Reveal Yourself) Campaign follows a similar move by Elon Musk in America. Musk emailed US government workers asking them to prove what work they’ve done.
The billionaire head of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency said: “All federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week. Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.”
In Gauteng, workers must go to their HR office to prove they are real employees. Those who don’t show up risk losing their jobs and could face criminal charges.
So far, 23,789 workers still need to prove they exist.
Image source: @NkomoNomantu
Ukraine fights back against Trump’s mineral grab
By Rorisang Modiba
Trump’s got Zelenskyy flying to Washington on Friday to sign a deal over Ukraine’s precious minerals. Trump initially wanted a massive $500bn chunk of Ukraine’s resources – imagine someone trying that with our platinum!
Much like how South Africans get nervous when foreign companies eye our mineral wealth, Ukrainians weren’t having it. Zelenskyy flat-out refused to sign something “10 generations would have to repay.”
Now, they’ve settled on sharing ownership instead – sound familiar? It’s the same dance our government does with mining giants over our resources.
As global powers scramble for these battery metals and rare earths, South Africa should watch closely. This is exactly the kind of pressure our mineral-rich country could face next.
Image source: File
