US President Donald Trump has accused South Africa of "confiscating" land and mistreating certain groups of people, announcing he will cut all future funding to the country until an investigation is conducted.
The land issue in South Africa remains contentious, with efforts to address the inequality of land ownership under apartheid drawing criticism from conservatives, including Elon Musk, a South African-born billionaire and Trump adviser.
Last month, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a bill allowing the government to expropriate land with “nil compensation” under specific conditions. While the South African government maintains the bill doesn't authorize arbitrary expropriation, some fear it could lead to a situation similar to Zimbabwe's land seizures after its independence in 1980.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, “South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY,” adding that he would suspend future funding until the situation is thoroughly investigated.
In a press briefing, Trump further criticized South Africa’s leadership, describing their actions as “terrible” and “horrible,” without providing specific examples. He warned that South Africa might be engaging in actions "far worse" than land confiscation.
Land ownership remains a sensitive issue in South Africa, with most farmland still owned by white individuals decades after apartheid ended. The South African government attributes the historical inequities to the 1913 Natives Land Act, which forcibly removed thousands of Black families from their land.
The matter has drawn attention from right-wing figures, including Musk, who have expressed concern over the potential consequences for white landowners. Musk and other conservative voices have supported a movement to protect white land ownership in South Africa.
Trump’s inner circle includes prominent figures who were raised in apartheid-era southern Africa, such as David Sacks and Peter Thiel, both of whom have ties to Silicon Valley and the PayPal co-founder network.
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