Living in fear on South Africa's farms

Loading player...
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’s move to prioritise the resettlement of white South African farmers reignited global controversy when he referenced what he has described as a “genocide” 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 BBC 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 BBC Focus on Africa.

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

Presented by Faranak Amidi.

Produced by Caroline Ferguson and Laura Thomas.
20 Dec 8AM English United Kingdom Education

Other recent episodes

In the Studio: Michael Symmons Roberts' Christmas Card Poem

There’s a tradition among poets to write a poem to put inside the Christmas cards they send. So, the BBC World Service has commissioned one specially from the poet, dramatist and novelist, Michael Symmons Roberts whose Christian faith is important to his identity and work. But his art is not…
21 Dec 8PM 27 min

United In Space – How we built the ISS

Personal tales of bravery, tragedy, daring and triumph, United in Space unveils the remarkable story of one of humanity’s greatest ever feats – building a home among the stars – the International Space Station. Celebrating 25 unbroken years of humans living in space, former international director of the UK Space…
20 Dec 8PM 51 min

BBC OS Conversations: Jewish Australians on the Bondi Beach attacks

The Australian government says it will crack down on hate speech following the deadly shooting that targeted a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach. People had come together to celebrate Hanukkah when two gunmen opened fire, killing fifteen people. Australia’s new laws aim to target those who spread “hate, division and…
19 Dec 8PM 24 min

Close encounters with an avalanche

It is peak season for avalanches in the northern hemisphere and three survivors share their experiences of being cuaght up in one in the US and Pakistan while skiing and climbing.
19 Dec 8PM 25 min

Prayers through the checkpoints

Imagine being able to see your place of worship, but not be able to reach it. For many Palestinian Muslims in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, stricter Israeli security measures, rising tensions with settlers, and movement restrictions introduced after the 7 October attacks, have made access to mosques…
18 Dec 8PM 28 min