President Trump has made a controversial decision by signing an executive order to cease all aid to South Africa. He has directed his Cabinet to devise a resettlement program for Afrikaners, whom he alleges are facing unjust racial discrimination in the country due to the new land law aimed at addressing the remnants of the apartheid era. The executive order, signed by the president on a Friday, criticizes South Africa for allegedly confiscating the agricultural property of ethnic minority Afrikaners without compensation. Furthermore, Trump condemns the nation for taking a strong stance against Israel, a key U.S. ally, particularly in accusing the Jewish State of genocide in the Gaza Strip.
The order explicitly states that as long as South Africa continues these “unjust and immoral practices,” the U.S. will refrain from providing aid and will actively support the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees fleeing government-backed racial discrimination, including discriminatory property confiscation. Trump has been increasingly vocal in his criticism of South Africa, particularly targeting the Expropriation Act signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa last month, which he perceives as a significant human rights violation. The president accuses the South African government of mistreating certain segments of the population and seizing land unfairly.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump hinted at cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a thorough investigation is conducted into the situation. The controversial legislation, enacted in January, allows the government to expropriate land without compensation when it is deemed just, equitable, and in the public interest. Ramaphosa, in response to Trump’s allegations, asserts that the law is not a tool for confiscation but a constitutionally mandated process ensuring equitable access to land while respecting property rights.
Tech mogul Elon Musk, a native of South Africa, has also questioned Ramaphosa’s decision to sign the legislation, raising concerns about openly racist ownership laws in the country. Amid escalating tensions between Trump and Ramaphosa, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced his decision to skip the G20 summit of foreign ministers scheduled to take place in Johannesburg, citing South Africa’s controversial actions such as expropriating private property and using the summit to advocate for initiatives like diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as environmental sustainability.
