'No refugees are hungry': Backlash after 'struggling' family report
The retired army colonel shared his views hours after a TikToker's claims about the family went viral.
In recent weeks, two groups of white South Africans have taken up US President Donald Trump's offer of refugee resettlement on the grounds of 'unjust racial discrimination'. The programme is open to all racial minorities who have been 'persecuted' in SA.
In a social media post, Chris Wyatt rubbished a TikToker's claims that an Afrikaner 'refugee' family of four had been 'stranded' at a motel in Montana after arriving in the US in recent weeks.
The female TikToker – @catmpt – claimed that she had come across the family's woes in a Facebook group for South Africans living in the US. According to the woman, the 'refugees' reportedly did not have food, money, or a cellphone.
She said of the family and the group of 'refugees': 'They understood that they would be arriving here for complete assistance. People thought they would be arriving at a house, a job, medical insurance, and other things. It isn't that way at all.
She added: 'Because of the political situation, they are really struggling to get jobs'.
She added: 'Here, these people, regardless of what they were promised, just came here expecting everything'.
Responding to the woman – who has since deleted her TikTok videos – Wyatt said: 'Tell me which refugees are not getting assistance?
'It's ludicrous! They've been here for three weeks. People live in South Africa for 17 years without a job in some cases…you don't know anything. You're repeating nonsense. You're opinions mean nothing.'
Wyatt added that many in the first group of 'refugees' now reportedly had social security numbers, and one had a car and a job already. That person arrived at an apartment stocked with food.
He added, 'No refugees are going hungry, and no refugees are suffering in motels. Most of them should be in their permanent housing, as per the way the system works.' @colonelchriswyatt Why are people spreading these lies? #southafrica #refugee #program #ramaphosa ♬ original sound – Colonel Chris Wyatt
In another video, Chris Wyatt urged South Africans who had applied for the refugee resettlement programme to exercise their patience while awaiting feedback.
He also claimed that the programme was still open despite the public's uncertainty about the 'falling out' between US President Donald Trump and South African-born former right-hand man Elon Musk.
He said, 'Do you seriously think this happens overnight? Here is some advice for anxious and impatient people: get on with your lives. When the call comes, the call comes.
'It's getting incredibly frustrating. People are being offered the most amazing gift possible under the unbelievable circumstances – where no one gave a c**p and completely ignored your plight – to become quite demanding.
He added, 'Honestly, you have very unrealistic expectations about how the world works.
'You had no offer [before]. You're not paying for this. We, the American taxpayers, are paying for this….you're not entitled to this. It's not a right, it's a gift'. @edlin1344 Has the South Africa Refugee Program stopped NO#edlin1344 ♬ original sound – Edlin
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