- Trump: “US Will Stop Funding In S’ Africa, They’re Treating People Badly”
- Ramaphosa: “That Is A Lie, South Africa Obeys Rule of Law “
By Abiola Olawale
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and United States President Donald Trump are locked in a heated verbal dispute regarding the contentious subject matter of land reform in South Africa.
The argument revolves around the complexities of historical land ownership in South Africa.
The New Diplomat reports that the argument escalated after Trump publicly claimed that South Africa is allegedly “confiscating land” and “treating certain classes of people very badly.”
He announced his intention to cut off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation into these allegations is completed.
The US President made this known in a statement issued via Truth Social and reinforced his intentions in media briefings, indicating his administration’s concern over what he perceives as land grabbing and human rights violations.
“South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people very badly. I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Later, in a briefing with journalists, Trump said that South Africa’s “leadership is doing some terrible things, horrible things” without giving examples.
“So, that’s under investigation right now. We’ll decide, and until we find out what South Africa is doing–they’re taking away land and confiscating land, and actually, they’re doing things that are perhaps far worse than that,” he added.
In response, Ramaphosa strongly refuted Trump’s claims. He emphasized that South Africa operates as a constitutional democracy with deep roots in the rule of law, justice, and equality.
Ramaphosa clarified that the South African government has not confiscated any land. He described the recently adopted Expropriation Act as a legal process aimed at ensuring equitable and just access to land, guided by the country’s constitution.
The South African President also pointed out that the only significant US funding South Africa receives is related to the PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) program, which constitutes 17% of the country’s HIV/AIDS efforts.
He stated: “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.
“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. 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 more common understanding of these matters.
“The US remains a key strategic political and trade partner for South Africa. With the exception of PEPFAR Aid, which constitutes 17% of South Africa’s HIVAids programme, there is no other funding that is received by South Africa from the United States.”
The New Diplomat reports that the issue of land reform in South Africa is deeply rooted in the country’s history, particularly the legacy of apartheid which skewed land ownership heavily towards the white minority. Since the end of apartheid, there have been ongoing efforts to redistribute land more equitably.
Ramaphosa recently signed the Expropriation Act into law. According to the South African President, the new law allows for land to be expropriated without compensation in certain circumstances, like when land is abandoned or held for speculative purposes, but it is framed as a measure to address historical injustices rather than arbitrary seizure.
