CAPE TOWN, Feb 3:
US President Donald Trump announced his intention to halt all funding to South Africa, citing significant human rights violations linked to a new land expropriation law. Through a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed his concerns, stating, “South Africa is confiscating land and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY.”
He emphasized the severity of the situation, claiming, “A massive Human Rights VIOLATION is happening for all to see. The United States won’t stand for it; we will act. I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation into this situation has been conducted!”
The South African government responded on Monday, suggesting that the Trump administration needed to better understand the objectives behind the new law, which aims to rectify the lasting effects of decades of white minority governance during apartheid, a system that ended in 1994. President Cyril Ramaphosa asserted, “The South African government has not confiscated any land.”
During apartheid, land rights were systematically stripped from the Black majority, confining them to designated areas.
Elon Musk, a billionaire and ally of Trump who was raised in South Africa, has also criticized Ramaphosa’s administration, labeling it as anti-white and asserting that the government allows a “genocide” against white farmers.
Experts argue that while there are instances of violence against white farmers, these incidents reflect broader issues of violent crime in South Africa, which ranks among the highest globally.
In remarks to the media, Trump claimed on Sunday, “They’re taking away land, they’re confiscating land, and they’re doing things that are perhaps far worse than that.”
While Trump did not specify the policies or individuals he was referring to, his comments seemed to address the recent land law passed in South Africa, which allows the government to acquire land from private owners if deemed necessary for public benefit.
Not a Confiscation Instrument
The law has been the subject of extensive debate and has faced criticism from various groups, who argue that it could facilitate the seizure of land owned by the white minority. However, the South African government maintains that property rights are protected and that land can only be appropriated in specific situations where it is underutilized and the redistribution aligns with public interest.
Ramaphosa’s office stated, “The recently adopted Expropriation Act is not a confiscation instrument but rather a legally mandated process that guarantees equitable public access to land as directed by the constitution.”
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola urged the Trump administration to use their proposed investigation as a means to better understand South Africa’s policies within the context of democracy. Such insights would promote a respectful and informed approach to their commitments to democratic principles.
South Africa significantly benefits from U.S. funding through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which contributes approximately $400 million annually to combat HIV/AIDS. This funding, however, has come under scrutiny following Trump’s global foreign aid freeze.
Trump’s Previous Criticism of South Africa
Ramaphosa’s office mentioned that “no other significant funding is provided by the United States to South Africa,” although the nation is America’s largest trading partner in Africa, as per the U.S. International Trade Commission.
Trump has criticized South Africa’s government in the past, alleging in a 2018 social media post that land was being unlawfully seized from white farms and that there was widespread violence against farmers. This statement was met with backlash in South Africa for perpetuating false narratives, even as Trump instructed then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to conduct an investigation.
According to official crime statistics, South Africa experiences approximately 70 homicides daily, with the majority of victims being Black. (AP)
CAPE TOWN, Feb 3:
US President Donald Trump announced his intention to halt all funding to South Africa, citing significant human rights violations linked to a new land expropriation law. Through a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed his concerns, stating, “South Africa is confiscating land and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY.”
He emphasized the severity of the situation, claiming, “A massive Human Rights VIOLATION is happening for all to see. The United States won’t stand for it; we will act. I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation into this situation has been conducted!”
The South African government responded on Monday, suggesting that the Trump administration needed to better understand the objectives behind the new law, which aims to rectify the lasting effects of decades of white minority governance during apartheid, a system that ended in 1994. President Cyril Ramaphosa asserted, “The South African government has not confiscated any land.”
During apartheid, land rights were systematically stripped from the Black majority, confining them to designated areas.
Elon Musk, a billionaire and ally of Trump who was raised in South Africa, has also criticized Ramaphosa’s administration, labeling it as anti-white and asserting that the government allows a “genocide” against white farmers.
Experts argue that while there are instances of violence against white farmers, these incidents reflect broader issues of violent crime in South Africa, which ranks among the highest globally.
In remarks to the media, Trump claimed on Sunday, “They’re taking away land, they’re confiscating land, and they’re doing things that are perhaps far worse than that.”
While Trump did not specify the policies or individuals he was referring to, his comments seemed to address the recent land law passed in South Africa, which allows the government to acquire land from private owners if deemed necessary for public benefit.
Not a Confiscation Instrument
The law has been the subject of extensive debate and has faced criticism from various groups, who argue that it could facilitate the seizure of land owned by the white minority. However, the South African government maintains that property rights are protected and that land can only be appropriated in specific situations where it is underutilized and the redistribution aligns with public interest.
Ramaphosa’s office stated, “The recently adopted Expropriation Act is not a confiscation instrument but rather a legally mandated process that guarantees equitable public access to land as directed by the constitution.”
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola urged the Trump administration to use their proposed investigation as a means to better understand South Africa’s policies within the context of democracy. Such insights would promote a respectful and informed approach to their commitments to democratic principles.
South Africa significantly benefits from U.S. funding through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which contributes approximately $400 million annually to combat HIV/AIDS. This funding, however, has come under scrutiny following Trump’s global foreign aid freeze.
Trump’s Previous Criticism of South Africa
Ramaphosa’s office mentioned that “no other significant funding is provided by the United States to South Africa,” although the nation is America’s largest trading partner in Africa, as per the U.S. International Trade Commission.
Trump has criticized South Africa’s government in the past, alleging in a 2018 social media post that land was being unlawfully seized from white farms and that there was widespread violence against farmers. This statement was met with backlash in South Africa for perpetuating false narratives, even as Trump instructed then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to conduct an investigation.
According to official crime statistics, South Africa experiences approximately 70 homicides daily, with the majority of victims being Black. (AP)
