In a dramatic escalation of tensions, US President Donald Trump has announced a complete cut-off of all future funding to South Africa, citing the country’s recently enacted land expropriation law as a “massive Human Rights VIOLATION”.
The move comes as South Africa grapples with the controversial legislation, which allows for land seizures without compensation under certain circumstances, sparking fears of a repeat of Zimbabwe’s disastrous land reform programme.
“South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “A massive Human Rights VIOLATION, at a minimum, is happening for all to see.”
Trump’s decision to halt funding comes as South Africa embarks on a contentious land reform programme aimed at addressing historical inequalities rooted in the apartheid era. The move has drawn comparisons to Zimbabwe’s controversial land seizures in the early 2000s, which led to economic collapse and widespread hardship.
The Land Expropriation Law
Two weeks ago, President Ramaphosa signed into law the Expropriation Bill, which replaces the 1975 Expropriation Act. The new legislation permits the government to expropriate land without compensation in specific circumstances deemed “just and equitable and in the public interest.” These include situations where land is unused, undeveloped, or poses a risk to public safety.
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) hailed the law as a “significant milestone” in South Africa’s transformation. “This momentous achievement reinforces the ANC’s dedication to addressing the persistent legacy of colonial dispossession and apartheid spatial planning, ensuring that the land and resources of South Africa are used to benefit the majority of its people,” the party said in a statement.
However, critics argue that the law is unfair and could lead to arbitrary land seizures. Trump echoed these concerns, stating, “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!”
Trump’s Broader Critique
In a briefing with journalists, Trump expanded on his criticism, accusing South Africa’s leadership of “doing some terrible things, horrible things.” He did not provide specific examples but reiterated his concerns about land confiscation.
“So that's under investigation right now. We'll make a determination, and until such time as we find out what South Africa is doing — they're taking away land and confiscating land, and actually they're doing things that are perhaps far worse than that,” Trump said.
The former president’s stance has been bolstered by the support of influential figures like Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa during the apartheid era and has been a vocal critic of the land reform measures. Musk, now a US citizen and one of Trump’s key advisers, has long championed the cause of white landowners in South Africa.
A Contentious History
Land ownership has been a deeply divisive issue in South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994. The 1913 Natives Land Act saw thousands of Black families forcibly removed from their land, leaving a disproportionate amount of farmland in the hands of the white minority. Three decades later, this imbalance persists, with Black South Africans owning only a small fraction of the nation’s agricultural land.
The new Expropriation Bill aims to redress this inequality, but it has reignited fears of a Zimbabwe-style land reform programme. In the early 2000s, Zimbabwe’s government, under President Robert Mugabe, seized white-owned commercial farms without compensation, leading to economic collapse, food shortages, and widespread poverty.
Comparisons to Zimbabwe
The parallels between South Africa’s current approach and Zimbabwe’s land reform programme are hard to ignore. In Zimbabwe, the chaotic and often violent land seizures disrupted agricultural production, leading to a sharp decline in food output and exports. The lack of investment and expertise following the displacement of experienced white farmers further exacerbated the situation, resulting in hyperinflation, widespread poverty, and a mass exodus of skilled workers.
South Africa’s government has sought to distance itself from Zimbabwe’s example, emphasising that its approach will be more orderly and lawful. President Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, clarified the legislation’s provisions: “Under the law, the state 'may not expropriate property arbitrarily or for a purpose other than… in the public interest',” he stated. “Expropriation may not be exercised unless the expropriating authority has without success attempted to reach an agreement with the owner.”
The Role of Silicon Valley Figures
Trump’s administration has been heavily influenced by powerful Silicon Valley figures with ties to apartheid-era southern Africa. Elon Musk, born in Pretoria in 1971, is perhaps the most prominent of these figures. Musk, who co-founded PayPal alongside David Sacks and Peter Thiel, has been a vocal critic of South Africa’s land reform measures.
Thiel, another PayPal co-founder and a key Trump adviser, also has connections to southern Africa, having lived in Namibia during its period of South African control. Both men have been accused of supporting the apartheid system, a claim their spokespeople have denied.
Ramaphosa’s Response
Despite Trump’s harsh criticism, President Ramaphosa has expressed optimism about maintaining a positive relationship with the former US president. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Ramaphosa said, “I spoke to him soon after he was elected, congratulated him, and we both said we are looking forward to continued dealings and engagements.”
However, Trump’s decision to cut funding to South Africa has cast a shadow over these hopes. The move underscores the deep ideological divide between the two leaders and highlights the challenges South Africa faces in balancing its domestic priorities with international relations.
A Delicate Balancing Act
As South Africa moves forward with its land reform programme, the government must navigate a complex web of historical grievances, economic realities, and international scrutiny. While the Expropriation Bill represents a significant step towards addressing historical inequalities, its implementation will require careful planning and transparency to avoid the pitfalls experienced by Zimbabwe.
