The United States has officially frozen foreign aid to South Africa, with President Donald Trump citing concerns over the country’s controversial land expropriation law. The decision marks a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions between Washington and Pretoria.
Trump’s Executive Order on South Africa
In an executive order signed on Friday, February 7, 2025, Trump condemned South Africa’s new Expropriation Act, which allows the government to seize land without compensation in cases deemed “just and equitable” in the public interest. Trump criticized the law, saying it showed a “shocking disregard” for citizens’ rights and unfairly targeted ethnic minority Afrikaners.
According to the order, South Africa’s government has adopted policies that undermine equal opportunities, promote “hateful rhetoric”, and encourage violence against certain landowners. Trump further accused the Ramaphosa administration of taking an anti-US stance, particularly through its support of Iran and its legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
“The United States cannot support the government of South Africa’s commission of rights violations in its country or its undermining of United States foreign policy, which poses national security threats to our Nation, our allies, our African partners, and our interests,” Trump stated in the executive order.
Diplomatic Fallout and Global Reactions
Trump’s order goes beyond freezing aid—it also includes supporting the resettlement of Afrikaners who wish to leave South Africa due to what he describes as “government-sponsored race-based discrimination.”
The US also confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will boycott the upcoming G20 Summit in Johannesburg, citing concerns over South Africa’s policies.
South Africa’s Response
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has firmly rejected Trump’s claims, stating that the land expropriation law is not an act of confiscation but a legally mandated reform to address historical injustices.
“We will not be deterred. We are a resilient people. We will not be bullied,” Ramaphosa declared in a parliamentary address on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s main opposition party, has also voiced concerns, warning that the law could threaten property rights and foreign investment.
The Land Ownership Debate
Land ownership remains a highly sensitive issue in South Africa. Despite making up over 80% of the population, Black South Africans own just 4% of privately owned farmland, according to a 2017 government audit. Meanwhile, White South Africans, who account for 7% of the population, own about 75% of the country’s farmland.
The African National Congress (ANC) argues that the new law is necessary to address historical inequalities and redistribute land more fairly. However, critics—including international investors—worry that expropriation without compensation could damage South Africa’s economic stability.
Impact of US Aid Suspension
Washington provided $440 million in foreign aid to South Africa in 2023, supporting economic development, health programs, and education. The freezing of these funds is expected to impact various initiatives, particularly in public health and infrastructure.
Trump’s decision aligns with his broader foreign aid reduction policies, which have seen the dismantling of agencies like USAID and cuts to global assistance programs.
What’s Next?
With diplomatic tensions rising, all eyes are on South Africa’s response and potential economic fallout. The G20 Summit boycott by the US Secretary of State could signal further political isolation for South Africa on the global stage.
At the same time, the debate over land reform continues to divide South African politics, with the ruling ANC standing firm on the law while opposition parties and global powers express concerns.
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