South African President Cyril Ramaphosa defended his land reform policy after former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed, without evidence, that South Africa was confiscating land and mistreating certain groups, prompting him to threaten cutting U.S. aid.
Ramaphosa denied land confiscation and expressed willingness to engage with Trump to clarify the policy, which aims to address racial disparities in land ownership stemming from apartheid.
Trump’s comments, echoed by Elon Musk, drew polarized reactions, with South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) accusing Trump of spreading misinformation from a right-wing lobby group, AfriForum.
The land reform law, signed by Ramaphosa, allows expropriation for public interest but requires fair compensation. Trump’s remarks caused economic concerns, as South Africa relies on U.S. trade benefits under the AGOA agreement, which is up for renewal.
South African officials expressed optimism about maintaining AGOA benefits despite strained U.S.-South Africa relations over Pretoria’s ties with China, Russia, and its stance on Israel.
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