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Trump Halts Aid to South Africa Over Land Expropriation Law and Foreign Policy Disputes

South Africa pushes back, accusing the U.S. of misinformation and misrepresenting its land reform efforts aimed at addressing historical injustices.

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FILE-Farm workers harvest sugar cane on the property of Charles Senekal near the South African town of Mkuze, Kwazulu-Natal, Nov. 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)
U.S. President Donald Trump holds a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the East Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 7, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura
FILE - A donkey-drawn cart carries people from the Richtersveld area in the North Western Cape Provice, South Africa, March 2005 where they live as they await the outcome of a lands claim action in nearby Alexandra Bay. (AP Photo/Mujahid Safodien, File)

Overview

  • President Trump signed an executive order freezing U.S. aid to South Africa, citing the country's new land expropriation law and alleged human rights violations against Afrikaner farmers.
  • The South African government denies claims of discriminatory land seizures, asserting the law is a constitutional effort to address apartheid-era injustices and ensure equitable land access.
  • The executive order also criticizes South Africa's foreign policy positions, including its accusations against Israel in the International Court of Justice and its renewed ties with Iran.
  • South Africa's Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation labeled the move as a campaign of misinformation, emphasizing the country's commitment to justice and fairness.
  • U.S.-South Africa relations face further strain, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio announcing a boycott of the upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg.