CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he will cut all future funding to South Africa and has launched an investigation into the country’s controversial land expropriation law, claiming that a “massive” human rights violation is occurring against white South Africans.
Trump made the pledge on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, stating: “South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY.” He went on to describe the situation as a “massive Human Rights VIOLATION” but did not provide specific evidence to support his claims.
“The United States won’t stand for it, we will act,” Trump said. “Also, I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!”
South African Government Responds
In response, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa rejected Trump’s accusations, clarifying that the South African government has not confiscated any land. Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of understanding the new land law before passing judgment. The law is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to redress the impacts of apartheid-era land dispossession, when land was forcibly taken from the black majority for the exclusive use of white South Africans.
In a statement on Monday, Ramaphosa wrote: “The South African government has not confiscated any land.” He further explained that the law, which passed last month, allows the government to expropriate land under certain conditions — only if it serves the public interest, and with protections for landowners’ rights.
“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.”
The Land Reform Debate
South Africa’s land reform has been a topic of intense debate, particularly regarding the Expropriation Act passed in January 2025. The law enables the government to acquire land from private owners without compensation, but only under specific conditions, such as when the land is not being used productively and if it serves the public good.
Critics, including some members of South Africa’s white minority, have raised concerns that the law could lead to the seizure of land from white farmers, though the government maintains that race is not a factor in land redistribution. The land reform aims to address the long-standing issue of land inequality in a country where the black majority owns a small fraction of the land, despite making up 80% of the population.
Ramaphosa and Lamola Defend the Law
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola echoed Ramaphosa’s statement, urging the Trump administration to deepen its understanding of South Africa’s democratic policies. He called for a respectful and informed approach to the country’s constitutional framework.
“Such insights will ensure a respectful and informed approach to our democratic commitments,” Lamola said.
South Africa’s primary source of U.S. aid comes through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which contributes around $400 million annually to the country’s HIV/AIDS programs. Trump’s freeze on foreign aid and his latest threat to cut funding could significantly impact these critical health programs.
Past Criticism and Violent Crime Concerns
Trump’s remarks are reminiscent of his criticism during his first term, when he claimed that land was being seized from white farmers and that there was a “large scale killing of farmers.” However, experts in South Africa argue that while violence against white farmers is a concern, it is part of the broader issue of violent crime in the country, where an average of 70 homicides are reported daily, with the vast majority of victims being Black South Africans.
Supporters of the new law argue that it’s a necessary step to correct historical injustices, while opponents, including civil society groups representing South Africa’s Afrikaans-speaking white minority, have urged Trump to target punitive measures at South African government leaders, not the entire country.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Trump administration will proceed with its investigation, and whether tensions between the two nations will escalate further over the land expropriation policy.