President Donald Trump has announced plans to halt all future US funding to South Africa while launching an investigation into the country’s policies. He claims that a “massive” human rights violation is taking place due to a new land expropriation law.
Trump made the declaration on his Truth Social platform, stating, “South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY.”
“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!”
President Donald Trump
The South African government responded on Monday, urging the Trump administration to better understand the new legislation. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa issued a statement clarifying that “the South African government has not confiscated any land.” Officials emphasized that the law is designed to address historic injustices stemming from apartheid, which ended in 1994.
During apartheid, South Africa’s Black majority was forcibly removed from their land and confined to designated areas. The new law aims to rectify the economic disparities left by decades of white minority rule.
Billionaire Elon Musk, a South African-born entrepreneur and a known Trump ally, has also criticized the law. In 2023, he accused Ramaphosa’s government of being anti-white, alleging that it was enabling a “genocide” against white farmers.
However, South African crime experts argue that the high murder rates affecting white farmers are reflective of the country’s broader violent crime crisis rather than targeted killings. South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world, with around 70 homicides recorded daily, most of which affect Black citizens.
Trump reinforced his claims, stating, “They’re taking away land, they’re confiscating land, and actually, they’re doing things that are perhaps far worse than that.” However, he did not specify which policies he was referring to or who was being mistreated.
Land Expropriation Law, US Funding And Economic Impact
The law, which South Africa passed last month, allows the government to acquire land from private owners if it is deemed in the public interest. Some groups in South Africa have expressed concerns that the law could lead to land seizures disproportionately affecting white landowners.
Despite these concerns, the government maintains that the legislation is not designed for mass confiscation but rather for fair redistribution where necessary. The office of President Ramaphosa issued a statement to clarify the land expropriation law.
“The recently adopted Expropriation Act is not a confiscation instrument, but a constitutionally mandated legal process that ensures public access to land in an equitable and just manner as guided by the constitution.”
The office of President Ramaphosa
The statement further noted that land expropriation laws exist in many countries, including the United States, where the government can seize property for public use while ensuring compensation.
South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola urged the US to approach the issue with a deeper understanding.
“The investigation should be used to deepen their understanding of South Africa’s policies as a constitutional democracy. Such insights will ensure a respectful and informed approach to our democratic commitments.”
South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola
The US provides significant financial assistance to South Africa, particularly through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which contributes approximately $400 million annually to HIV/AIDS programs. This funding was already under scrutiny following Trump’s previous foreign aid freezes.
Despite Trump’s threat to cut aid, the South African government asserts that US contributions are not a major factor in the country’s economy. Ramaphosa’s office stated, “There is no other significant funding that is provided by the United States in South Africa,” while noting that South Africa remains the US’s largest trading partner on the continent.
Trump’s criticism of South Africa is not new. In 2018, during his first term, he accused the South African government of “large scale killing of farmers” and ordered then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to investigate land seizures. However, his claims were widely disputed within South Africa.
As tensions rise over the land expropriation issue, the investigation and potential US funding cuts could further strain US-South Africa relations.
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