South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has sharply rebuked former U.S. President Donald Trump after Trump announced plans to cut funding to South Africa over allegations of land confiscation and the mistreatment of certain groups.
Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, claiming that South Africa was seizing land and unfairly treating its people, while vowing to halt all future funding until an investigation was conducted. Trump criticized South Africa’s leadership, calling their actions “terrible,” although he did not provide specific examples.
In response, Ramaphosa rejected Trump’s assertions, asserting that South Africa is a constitutional democracy committed to the rule of law, justice, and equality. He emphasized that the South African government had not confiscated any land, pointing to the newly enacted Expropriation Act, which serves as a legal framework for equitable land reform under constitutional guidelines. Ramaphosa further noted that South Africa’s expropriation laws are similar to those in the U.S. and other countries.
On the issue of funding, Ramaphosa explained that South Africa only receives U.S. assistance through PEPFAR, which supports 17% of the country’s HIV/AIDS program, with no additional funding from the U.S. government. The president expressed a willingness to engage with the Trump administration to clarify South Africa’s land reform policies and other bilateral matters, suggesting that such discussions could promote mutual understanding.
Ramaphosa, however, did not hold back in his response to Trump, stating, “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 took a swipe at Trump’s comments on land ownership, referencing the history of land seizures in America from indigenous people.
In a bold statement, Ramaphosa added that if he ever meets Trump, he will tell him to his face that his ancestors were responsible for the genocide and land theft from indigenous Americans. He reiterated that South African land belongs to those who live there and not to Trump, asserting that the U.S. should focus on its own issues while South Africa handles its own matters.
The land issue remains a deeply divisive one in South Africa. The 1913 Natives Land Act forcibly displaced thousands of Black families during apartheid, and despite the end of apartheid three decades ago, most farmland remains in the hands of white owners. Efforts to address this disparity 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.
Recently, Ramaphosa signed a bill that allows for “nil compensation” when property is expropriated in the public interest under specific circumstances. The South African government has defended the law as a balanced approach that involves negotiations with property owners, rejecting fears of a Zimbabwe-style land grab.
The debate has attracted attention from prominent figures in Silicon Valley, including Musk and PayPal co-founders David Sacks and Peter Thiel, both of whom have ties to Trump and have faced criticism for their views on land reform. The issue remains a contentious and polarizing one, both in South Africa and internationally.
