 "Trump accuses South Africa of ‘massive human rights violation’ over land policy, suspends aid")
US President Donald Trump Sunday (February 9) cited a “massive human rights violation” to justify his executive order ending American aid to South Africa.
On Friday, the White House said Trump had signed the order over the African nation’s land policy and its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Trump also offered to resettle White South African farmers and their families as refugees in the US under the country’s Refugee Admissions Program for Afrikaners, white descendants of early Dutch and French settlers.
‘Human rights violation happening’
Taking to his Truth Social platform, the US president blasted South Africa for its policy of “confiscating land”.
South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY. It is a bad situation that the Radical Left Media doesn’t want to so much as mention. A massive Human Rights VIOLATION is happening, for all to see. The United States won’t stand for it - We…
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 9, 2025
“South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY. It is a bad situation that the Radical Left Media doesn’t want to so much as mention. A massive Human Rights VIOLATION is happening, for all to see. The United States won’t stand for it - We will act. Also, because of this, I will be cutting off all aid to South Africa until further notice!” Trump wrote in his morning post.
What is the contentious law?
South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa in January green-lighted an expropriation act which aims to address concerns over land inequalities in the country.
Today, three-quarters of privately owned land in the country is owned by white minority groups. The government wants to make it easier to expropriate land “in public interest.”
Notably, South Africa’s British rulers are blamed for this massive disparity in land ownership, who handed over most of the farmlands to whites.
Ramaphosa to ‘engage’ Trump
The South African leader last week said that he was hoping to engage Trump on the issue of land reform policy.
“We look forward to engaging with the Trump administration over our land reform policy and issues of bilateral interest. We are certain that out of those engagements, we will share a better and common understanding over these matters,” he said.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHow are Afrikaner groups reacting to Trump’s offer?
News agency Associated Press reported that key Afrikaner groups, including AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement, rejected Trump’s offer to migrate.
The groups look eager to resolve the issues within South Africa, reported the agency.
However, the offer was welcomed by other white South Africans, even as the government dismissed claims of discrimination and human rights violations.
(With inputs from agencies)
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