Trump threatens to cut aid to S’Africa over land expropriation
US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he would cut off all future funding to South Africa, citing allegations that the government was seizing land and treating certain classes of people “very badly”.
Mr. Trump in a statement said, “It is a bad situation… A massive human rights violation, at a minimum, is happening for all to see,” Trump wrote on the Truth Social Media.
“The United States won’t stand for it, we will act. I will be cutting all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed.!”, he added.
He further described the South African leadership’s actions as “terrible” and “horrible,” though he did not provide evidence to support his claims.
Moreover, this comes after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a law facilitating state land expropriation, including provisions for equitable compensation.
Under the controversial Expropriation Bill, state organs may expropriate land in the public interest along with strict guidelines for fair compensation.
The Bill News Band understand, repeals the apartheid-era Expropriation Act of 1975.
Thousands of families were forcibly evicted from their land to benefit people classified as white during the apartheid regime.
South African-born Elon Musk is a close Trump ally and head of the Department of Government Efficiency has accused the government of creating a genocide of white people, despite the lack of evidence.
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Though, the South African government dismissed the allegations as unsubstantiated.
Ramaphosa said in a statement issued by the presidency that South Africa is a constitutional democracy deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice, and equality, adding that the government has not confiscated any land.
“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. South Africa, like the United States of America and other countries, has always had expropriation laws that balance the need for public usage of land and the protection of rights of property owners…”
Ramaphosa also 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.
“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,” he said.
Also, South Africa’s foreign minister defended the new law, which he said is similar to eminent domain principles in the US and the UK.
“We trust that President Trump’s advisers will utilize the investigative period to gain a comprehensive understanding of South Africa’s policies as a constitutional democracy,” International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola said by phone.
“This will ensure a well-informed perspective that respects and acknowledges our nation’s commitment to democratic principles and governance.”
