Kate Bartlett
Appearances
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-06-2025 4AM EDT
Foreign Affairs Minister Olivia Ndohundurahe told Rwandan TV that talks are ongoing. He said his country had experience in the matter after Rwanda made a similar deal to accept expelled migrants from the UK. That multi-million dollar deal was found unlawful by the British Supreme Court and ultimately scrapped.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-06-2025 4AM EDT
One of President Trump's key policies is a crackdown on illegal immigration and he has started mass deportations that are being challenged in court. His Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said last month the U.S. was searching for countries that would accept deportees. For NPR News, I'm Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-10-2025 4AM EDT
There they will be greeted with fanfare by senior government officials and a press conference is scheduled to be held. And after that, they'll be sent to their final destinations for resettlement.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 05-10-2025 4AM EDT
Three off-the-record sources have told me that about 54 Afrikaners have been interviewed and granted refugee status in the U.S., These three government sources don't wish to be named because they're not authorized to speak to the media. What we know at the moment is that a group of South Africans will be arriving on Monday at Dulles Airport.
Up First from NPR
Negotiating Trump's Sweeping Agenda, South Africa's President, DOGE Cuts
Basically, for months, Trump has been saying terrible things have been happening in South Africa. He's been repeating right-wing conspiracy theories, claiming without evidence that white Afrikaner farmers are being persecuted and their land confiscated. The South African government, the data, and most experts say there's no evidence of that.
Up First from NPR
Negotiating Trump's Sweeping Agenda, South Africa's President, DOGE Cuts
And Ramaphosa hasn't hidden his frustration over Trump's actions. Here he is last week.
Up First from NPR
Negotiating Trump's Sweeping Agenda, South Africa's President, DOGE Cuts
The South African government says the people taking up Trump's refugee offer are simply people who still can't accept apartheid is over. So Ramaphosa faces an uphill battle. And Trump will likely berate South Africa for taking Israel to the Hague over claims of a genocide in its war in Gaza.
Up First from NPR
Negotiating Trump's Sweeping Agenda, South Africa's President, DOGE Cuts
Well, Ramaphosa is a skilled negotiator. He worked alongside Nelson Mandela and was instrumental in the talks that ended apartheid. Now he needs to salvage the U.S. relationship, which is of huge economic importance to South Africa. He might try to appeal to Trump's transactional side. South Africa is rich in minerals like platinum. And Ramaphosa is expected to appeal to the U.S.
Up First from NPR
Negotiating Trump's Sweeping Agenda, South Africa's President, DOGE Cuts
's interests in countering China's influence in Africa as well. And he could offer a deal to Trump's South African-born advisor, Elon Musk. The billionaire businessman objects to affirmative action laws that he claims prevent him from rolling out his Starlink satellite service in South Africa.
Up First from NPR
Negotiating Trump's Sweeping Agenda, South Africa's President, DOGE Cuts
Well, South Africans are watching anxiously to see if Ramaphosa is humiliated the way Ukrainian President Zelensky was on his visit to the Oval Office earlier this year. And many South Africans, both white and black, are really angry with Trump's attacks on their country. I spoke to people at a Johannesburg cafe, including 42-year-old barista Sia Rallo.
Up First from NPR
Negotiating Trump's Sweeping Agenda, South Africa's President, DOGE Cuts
Ramaphosa might also want to bring up the one South African Trump does seem to admire, Nelson Mandela. He's repeatedly compared himself and his legal problems to Mandela's 27 years in jail for the struggle against apartheid. That comparison drew anger from Mandela's family.