US President Donald Trump has announced that all aid to South Africa will be halted indefinitely due to the country’s alleged discriminatory land policy.
WHAT TRANSPIRED
In January, Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa, signed the controversial Expropriation Act into law, which sparked widespread international debate. The new policy permits the government to seize land without compensation in specific situations, as part of an effort to address the “decade-long inequality” created by apartheid.
The South African government stated that the law was introduced to accelerate land reform, given that black South Africans own a significantly smaller share of agricultural land than the white minority.
Trump had criticized the law, stating that it “violates” human rights and promised to take action.
WE’LL CUT ALL AID TO SOUTH AFRICA — TRUMP
On Sunday, in a post on Truth Social, Trump declared that he would be suspending all aid to South Africa “until further notice.”
“South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY. It is a bad situation that the Radical Left Media doesn’t want to so much as mention,” the US President wrote.
“A massive Human Rights VIOLATION is happening, for all to see. The United States won’t stand for it – We will act. Also, because of this, I will be cutting off all aid to South Africa until further notice!”
Ramaphosa defended the land reform policy, stating that “South Africa is a constitutional democracy that is deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice and equality.”
He further expressed that South Africa “looks forward to engaging with the Trump administration over the land reform policy and issues of bilateral interest.”
