President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed insinuations by US President Donald Trump, that South Africa is confiscating land from certain minorities and treating them badly. Addressing the media, Trump said his administration will cut aid to South Africa for its land policies.
“South Africa is confiscating land and treating certain classes of people very badly. It is a bad situation, a massive human rights violation, at a minimum, is happening for all to see. 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,” said Trump.
Ramaphosa dismissed Trump’s comments, that South Africa is a constitutional democracy that is deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice, and equality, adding that government has not confiscated any land.
“South Africa is a constitutional democracy that is deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice, and equality. The South African government has not confiscated any land.
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.
South Africa, like the United States of America and other countries, has always had expropriation laws that balance the need for public usage of land and the protection of rights of property owners,” said
Ramaphosa.
Moreover, Ramaphosa said he’s looking forward to engaging with the Trump administration over the country’s land reform policy and issues of bilateral interest.
