South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has strongly criticized Donald Trump following the U.S. President’s announcement to cut funding to South Africa over allegations of land confiscation and mistreatment of certain groups.
Trump declared on his Truth Social platform that he would halt all future funding to South Africa pending an investigation, claiming the nation was confiscating land and treating people unfairly. Trump later described South Africa’s leadership as engaging in “terrible” actions but did not provide specific examples.
In response, Ramaphosa dismissed Trump’s claims, emphasizing that South Africa is a constitutional democracy grounded in the rule of law, justice, and equality. He stated that the government has not confiscated any land and highlighted the recently enacted Expropriation Act, which he described as a legal mechanism for equitable land reform under constitutional guidelines. Ramaphosa further noted that South Africa has always had expropriation laws similar to those in the U.S. and other nations.
Ramaphosa addressed the funding issue, pointing out that South Africa only receives U.S. assistance through PEPFAR, which supports 17% of the country’s HIV/AIDS program. He reiterated that no other funding is received from the United States. The South African president expressed his willingness to engage with the Trump administration to clarify the country’s land reform policies and other bilateral issues, adding that such discussions could foster mutual understanding.
In a fiery remark, Ramaphosa stated, “I don’t know what Donald Trump has to do with South African land. South Africa does not belong to Donald Trump. He must leave us alone. Stay out of our issues.” He also criticized Trump’s comments on land ownership, referencing the historical seizure of indigenous lands in America.
President Ramaphosa also promised that whenever he sees Trump he will tell him to his face that he’s the worst because his forebears came to America and wiped out the indigenous people, grabbing their lands too. He also stated that South African lands belong to those who live there and not to Trump. He also noted that Trump should keep his America while they keep their South Africa.
The land issue has been a long-standing and divisive topic in South Africa. The 1913 Natives Land Act led to the displacement of thousands of Black families under apartheid. Despite the end of apartheid three decades ago, most farmland remains in white ownership. Efforts to redress this imbalance through legal land reform have faced criticism, particularly from conservative figures like Elon Musk, a South African-born billionaire, and others with ties to Trump’s administration.
Ramaphosa recently signed a bill allowing the government to offer “nil compensation” for property expropriated in the public interest under specific circumstances. Pretoria has defended the law as a balanced approach that requires negotiation with property owners, countering fears of Zimbabwe-style land seizures without compensation.
The debate has attracted attention from prominent figures in Silicon Valley with connections to apartheid-era southern Africa, including Musk and PayPal co-founders David Sacks and Peter Thiel, both of whom have faced criticism over their ties to Trump and controversial views on land reform. The issue remains a polarizing topic in South Africa and internationally.
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