Cyril Ramaphosa, South African President, has responded to Donald Trump, U.S. President’s threat to withdraw aid over the country’s land reform laws, which aim to address historical inequalities in land ownership.
Trump expressed concerns about the potential impact of the laws on property rights and farmers, warning of aid cuts if the government presses ahead with its reforms.
In his response, Ramaphosa told Trump to “leave us alone” and focus on his own domestic issues.
The South African leader also reminded Trump that “your ancestors were responsible for the near-extermination of Native Americans” and emphasised that South Africa had resolved its apartheid struggles without U.S. involvement.
Land ownership has remained a contentious issue in South Africa, with most private farmland still owned by white people over three decades after the end of apartheid.
Calls for land reforms have grown louder as the government works to address the lingering effects of racial segregation and redistribute land more equitably.
Ramaphosa responded to Trump’s criticism on X (formerly Twitter), stating that South Africa is a constitutional democracy deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice, and equality, and that the government has not confiscated any land.
He also noted that the only U.S. funding South Africa receives is through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which supports 17 percent of the country’s HIV/AIDS programme.
In 2023, the U.S. allocated about $440 million in assistance to South Africa, according to U.S. government data, a significant portion of which supports health initiatives such as PEPFAR.
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