South African President Cyril Ramaphosa responded on Monday to US President Donald Trump’s threat to cut off aid over the alleged mistreatment of White farmers, denying Trump’s claim that authorities were “confiscating land.” Ramaphosa emphasized that South Africa is a constitutional democracy deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice, and equality, and clarified that the government has not confiscated any land.
Ramaphosa expressed readiness to engage with the Trump administration on land reform policy and other bilateral interests. He noted that while the US is a significant political and trade partner, it does not provide substantial funding to South Africa apart from a major HIV/AIDS relief program.
Trump's recent threat to halt future funding until allegations of land confiscation and mistreatment are investigated is not new. The issue stems from South Africa's history of racist land policies that favored White farmers, leading to the displacement of Black and non-White South Africans. Since the end of apartheid in 1994, the country has had provisions for land redistribution and restitution in its constitution.
Despite these efforts, challenges persist, with high levels of unemployment and poverty among Black South Africans who own only a small fraction of the land. In January, Ramaphosa signed a bill into law outlining new guidelines for land expropriation, allowing the government to take land without compensation in certain cases.
Ramaphosa clarified that the law is not a tool for confiscation but a legal process aimed at ensuring equitable and just access to land as outlined in the constitution. However, constitutional safeguards against expropriation without compensation remain in place, and legal experts anticipate potential challenges if the ruling party moves to implement the policy.
