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Home News Trump Threatens To Cut US Aid To South Africa Over Land Expropriation

Trump Threatens To Cut US Aid To South Africa Over Land Expropriation

by Celia

US President Donald Trump has vowed to stop all future American assistance to South Africa over its land expropriation policies. Trump’s comments, made on Truth Social, claimed that recent measures enable the South African government to unfairly confiscate land. He accused the authorities of treating “certain classes of people VERY BADLY.” Trump added that he would cut off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of the situation is completed.

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Trump’s remarks led to a 1.9 percent drop in the South African rand, which weakened to 19 rand per US dollar. He later told reporters that South Africa’s leadership was engaged in “some terrible things, horrible things,” suggesting that the situation was worse than just land confiscation, though he did not provide evidence or details.

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South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa signed an expropriation bill into law this month. According to the South African government, the legislation allows local, provincial, and national authorities to expropriate land in the public interest for various reasons, including promoting inclusivity and access to natural resources.

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The US provided nearly $440 million in assistance to South Africa in 2023, the latest year for which data is available. The Trump administration has now paused all foreign assistance for 90 days and has cast doubt on the future of its main international aid agency, as its website has gone dark and dozens of employees have been placed on leave.

South Africa’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile spoke at the Financial Times on October 4, 2024. Last month, President Ramaphosa told reporters in Davos that he was “not worried” about relations with the US, noting that he had spoken with Trump after the US president’s election. South Africa holds the presidency of the G20 this year.

Close Trump ally Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency and is originally from South Africa, has exerted broader control over US departments and agencies in recent days. His team has gained control of the Treasury’s payment system and sent representatives to USAID to access information, including classified data. Two senior security officials were placed on leave after denying access.

In his first term, Trump had promised to investigate claims of widespread killings of white farmers in South Africa, allegations that the South African government has dismissed as unsubstantiated. Trump has previously targeted South Africa and other BRICS nations, threatening them with 100 percent tariffs if they move away from the dollar as a reserve currency.

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