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Trump threatened to cut off funding for South Africa, citing land confiscations. Ramaphosa said there was no other significant funding provided by the US except for South Africa’s HIV/Aids programme.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (Reuters/File)
After targeting China, Mexico and Canada with tariffs, US President Donald Trump has now targeted South Africa for allegedly “confiscating land” and “treating certain classes of people very badly”.
Trump said his administration would cut off all future funding to South Africa would be cut off until a full investigation over his allegations is completed, calling it a “massive human rights violation” on his Truth Social platform.
“South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY. It is a bad situation that the Radical Left Media doesn’t want to so much as mention. A massive Human Rights VIOLATION, at a minimum, is happening for all to see. The United States won’t stand for it, we will act. Also, I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!” he said.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and an ardent Trump supporter, agreed with the President’s latest allegations against South Africa.
What Is Trump Talking About?
Trump’s actions came after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a bill last month that stipulates the government may, in certain circumstances, offer “nil compensation” for property it decides to expropriate in the public interest.
The land reform issue has long been divisive following the apartheid – one of the most violent forms of legalised racial segregation in history. Most of South Africa’s farmland still owned by white people three decades after the end of apartheid.
Since then land courts have adjudicated on a handful of land disputes and, after exhaustive processes, returned land to previously displaced owners who were forcibly removed from their land during the apartheid regime.
Musk and right-wing journalist Katie Hopkins have long championed the cause of white land-owners. He is among several members of Trump’s inner circle who rose to wealth during South Africa’s apartheid regime.
After Ramaphosa signed the land reform bill, concerns rose over a Zimbabwe-like situation, where the government seized white-owned commercial farms after independence in 1980, often without compensation. Trump said that South Africa’s “leadership is doing some terrible things, horrible things” without giving examples.
How Ramaphosa Reacted To Trump’s Decision?
Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday that he looked forward to engaging with the US President and assured that both sides will share a better and common understanding over these matters.
“We look forward to engaging with the Trump administration over our land reform policy and issues of bilateral interest. We are certain that out of those engagements, we will share a better and common understanding over these matters,” Ramaphosa said in a statement issued by the presidency.
“South Africa is a constitutional democracy that is deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice and equality. The South African government has not confiscated any land.”
Ramaphosa said except for PEPFAR aid, which constitutes 17% of South Africa’s HIV/Aids programme, there was no other significant funding provided by the United States.
In response to Trump’s comments, South Africa’s foreign ministry said its expropriation act was not exceptional. “We trust President Trump’s advisors will make use of the investigative period to attain a thorough understanding of South Africa’s policies within the framework of a constitutional democracy,” it said in a statement.
(with inputs from agencies)
- Location :
Cape town, South Africa
