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Living in fear on South Africa's farms

Farmers in South Africa fear theft and violence, but why do these crimes happen?

In February, American President Donald Trump signed an executive order which said that South African Afrikaners - descendants of mainly Dutch settlers who arrived in the 17th Century - could be admitted as refugees in the USA as they were "victims of unjust racial discrimination". President Trump鈥檚 move to prioritise the resettlement of white South African farmers reignited global controversy when he referenced what he has described as a 鈥済enocide鈥 against white farmers. Thousands of South Africans have now applied for refugee status in the USA, and are waiting to potentially relocate there. Farmers in South Africa are predominantly white, but farmers and farm workers of all races fear theft and violent crime in the country. Claire Mawisa is a reporter for 麻豆社 Africa Eye and recently travelled to meet farmers in South Africa.

Kings, or chiefs, in Ghana don't hold much formal or political power, but they are hugely important to people and hold a lot of cultural and social influence. But there are also powerful royal women in Ghana. They've held power in certain parts of the country for a long time, but it seems their influence is now on the rise. It is a story that caught the eye of Stefania Okereke of 麻豆社 Focus on Africa.

This episode of The Documentary comes to you from The Fifth Floor, the show at the heart of global storytelling, with 麻豆社 journalists from all around the world.

Presented by Faranak Amidi.

Produced by Caroline Ferguson and Laura Thomas.

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Mon 22 Dec 2025 03:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 20 Dec 2025 18:32GMT
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  • Mon 22 Dec 2025 03:32GMT