By Enyichukwu Enemanna
U.S. President Donald Trump has alleged that “certain classes of people” in South Africa are being treated “very badly,” announcing his administration’s decision to cut off funding for the country until the matter is investigated.
“South Africa is confiscating land and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY,” Trump said on Sunday in a post on Truth Social, without providing evidence.
“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!” the U.S. leader stated amid poor ratings in the first two weeks of his administration.
Recent U.S. government data indicates that Washington obligated nearly $440 million in assistance to Pretoria in 2023.
The Democratic Alliance, a white-dominated party that is a member of the Government of National Unity (GNU), has accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of unfair treatment.
Last month, Ramaphosa signed into law a bill that would make it easier for the state to expropriate land in the public interest—a bill opposed by the Democratic Alliance.
The law, he said, seeks to address racial disparities in land ownership that persist three decades after apartheid’s demise in 1994.
In response to Trump’s post, South Africa’s foreign ministry said, “We trust President Trump’s advisers will make use of the investigative period to attain a thorough understanding of South Africa’s policies within the framework of a constitutional democracy.”
It added: “It may become clear that our expropriation act is not exceptional, as many countries have similar legislation.”
South Africa is a member of the BRICS bloc and the G20, where it currently holds the presidency. It will be succeeded by the United States.
Last month, Ramaphosa said he was not worried about the country’s relationship with Trump. According to the South African leader, he had spoken to Trump after the latter’s election victory and looked forward to working with his administration.
During his first term in office, Trump said the U.S. would investigate unproven large-scale killings of white farmers in South Africa and violent takeovers of land, but Pretoria at the time said Trump was misinformed.
Elon Musk, a close ally of the U.S. President, was born in South Africa. In 2023, Musk replied on X to a video of a far-left South African political party singing an old anti-apartheid song, “Kill the Boer (farmer).” He said, “They are openly pushing for genocide of white people in South Africa. @CyrilRamaphosa, why do you say nothing?”
