South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Picture: REUTERS / Esa Alexander
THE Presidency says it looks forward to engaging with the Trump administration over South Africa’s land reform policy so that a better and common understanding will be shared on the matter.
This comes after Trump, in a Fox News interview shared online, was asked if he was planning to cut aid to different African nations.
Trump responded: “No. It’s only South Africa, terrible things are happening in South Africa... They are taking away land, they are confiscating land and actually they are doing things that are perhaps far worse than that".
On his Truth Social app, Trump also wrote that "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.
The Presidency on Monday said 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 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 Presidency said.
“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 Presidency stated that 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 HIV/AIDS programme there is no other funding that is received by South Africa from the United States.”
Cape Times