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From Breitbart: President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he is suspending all U.S. aid to South Africa after the latter passed a law on land expropriation, which many fear could lead to Zimbabwe-style seizures of land owned by white citizens.
South Africa received $273 million from the U.S. in 2023, according to ForeignAssistance.gov. (Reuters puts the sum at $440 million.) That includes funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). South Africa also has key trade deals with the U.S.
The issue of expropriation has been simmering for decades in South Africa, given the unequal distribution of land, most of which is owned by the white minority as a result of colonialism and apartheid. But until now, South Africa has been reluctant to follow the example of Zimbabwe, which seized land from white farmers in 2000 and plunged the country into starvation, as few black farmers were successful and many farms were stolen by the ruling party.
South Africa, like the United States, already allows the government to seize land under an authority similar to eminent domain, though the preference is for a “willing buyer, willing seller” transaction at fair market prices.
The report notes that few blacks in South Africa want to far, but the radical black nationalist and communities politicians continue to demand that the government seize the property of white farmers, and new legislation, called the Expropriation Act, allows the government to take private land for a “public purpose,” without even having to pay for it.
In a post on Truth Social Sunday evening, Trump announced: “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. A massive Human Rights VIOLATION, at a minimum, is happening for all to see. The United States won’t stand for it, we will act. Also, I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!”
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa fired back after learning the money from the US will be cut off.
In a defiant speech on Sunday, Ramaphosa raged, “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 then claimed that years ago, the United States was founded when land was stolen from native Americans.
He demanded that Trump “stay out of our issues” and leave South Africa alone.
WATCH THIS:
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa:
“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 is about to experience the FO part of FAFO! pic.twitter.com/6mPZVUlPKa
— Cillian (@CilComLFC) February 3, 2025
In a social media post, Ramaphosa wrote:
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 common understanding over 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.
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…
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) February 3, 2025
“Why do you have openly racist ownership laws?” Elon Musk demanded.
Why do you have openly racist ownership laws? https://t.co/tHWVsmB04F
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 3, 2025
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