South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a strong rebuke to U.S. President Donald Trump, following his threats to cut HIV/AIDS funding over South Africa’s newly adopted land policy. Ramaphosa dismissed Trump’s remarks, asserting that South Africa’s land reform measures are legitimate and constitutionally guided.
Speaking in a video seen by The Star, Ramaphosa firmly rejected Trump’s criticism and interference in South African affairs.
“We are living as a nation of blacks and whites working to find solutions to our land question, and Donald Trump must leave us alone. When we were facing apartheid, when we were facing oppression, he was not here. He did not fight side by side with us,” said Ramaphosa.
The South African President emphasized that his country’s land reform policy does not involve land confiscation. Instead, the Expropriation Act, recently signed into law, provides a legal framework to ensure equitable access to 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,” he stated.
U.S. Funding and South Africa’s Stance
Ramaphosa downplayed the significance of U.S. funding in South Africa, particularly in relation to Trump’s threats to cut aid. He pointed out that the U.S.’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) contributes only 17% to South Africa’s HIV/AIDS program.
“With the exception of PEPFAR Aid, which constitutes 17% of South Africa’s HIV/AIDS program, there is no other significant funding that is provided by the United States in South Africa,” he noted.
He insisted that South Africa is capable of handling its affairs independently and that Trump should focus on American issues rather than interfering in foreign policies.
“Stay out of our issues, and we will not get involved in your issues in America,” he asserted.
Trump’s Allegations and Threats
Trump, on the other hand, has accused South Africa of conducting land confiscations and treating certain groups unfairly. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, he alleged that South Africa is committing “massive human rights violations.”
“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, at a minimum, is happening for all to see,” Trump wrote.
He went further to declare that the U.S. would cut all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation into the land issue is conducted.
“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 stated.
Later, speaking to journalists, Trump claimed that South Africa’s leadership was engaged in “terrible things.”
“So that’s under investigation right now. We’ll decide, and until we find out what South Africa is doing they’re taking away land and confiscating land, and they’re doing things that are perhaps far worse than that.”
South Africa’s Land Reform Debate
Land reform remains a sensitive and complex issue in South Africa. Over 30 years since the end of apartheid, land ownership disparities persist, with white South Africans still controlling the majority of farmland. This has led to increased pressure on the government to address past injustices and redistribute land more equitably.
Last month, Ramaphosa signed a bill allowing land expropriation without compensation under certain circumstances, a move that has sparked international debate. The policy aims to correct historical imbalances but has faced criticism from conservative groups and foreign leaders, including Trump.
Despite the backlash, Ramaphosa reaffirmed his commitment to dialogue, stating that he looks forward to engaging with the U.S. administration to clarify South Africa’s position.
“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 concluded.
Ramaphosa’s firm stance underscores South Africa’s determination to handle its own domestic policies without external interference. As land reform continues to be a contentious issue, South Africa remains focused on finding solutions that balance justice, economic growth, and social stability.
