South Africa has firmly rejected criticism from former US President Donald Trump over the country’s newly enacted land reform legislation. The government emphasized that the law is in line with international standards and its constitutional framework.
Trump, in a social media post on Sunday, threatened to cut off funding to South Africa. He accused the government of unfairly targeting certain groups through its land expropriation policies. The former US president’s comments, made on Truth Social, called the country’s land confiscation practices a form of mistreatment.
“South Africa is confiscating land and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY,” Trump wrote. “I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!”
In response, South Africa’s government reaffirmed its position that land expropriation is a legitimate exercise of sovereign rights, which is consistent with international law. A statement from the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the country trusts Trump’s advisors will use the investigation period to gain a deeper understanding of South Africa’s policies, which are rooted in its constitutional democracy.
The South African government pointed out that, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, countries have the sovereign right to expropriate land for various purposes, including economic and social reasons.
The expropriation law, signed into effect recently, allows the government to seize land from private owners without compensation in cases where it is deemed necessary for the public interest. The South African government reiterated that the law is aligned with its constitution, which provides for land expropriation to rectify historical land ownership injustices, provided fair and just compensation is offered.
Replacing the apartheid-era Expropriation Act of 1975, the new law is seen as a critical step toward addressing past inequalities in land distribution. The government called on international stakeholders to recognize the law as part of South Africa’s ongoing efforts to build a more equitable society.
The South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs concluded by encouraging a more informed approach to the debate. They noted that many countries across the globe have similar laws in place. “Our expropriation act is not an isolated case,” the statement emphasized, urging for a broader understanding of the law’s context.