South African President Cyril Ramaphosa responded on Monday to US President Donald Trump's threat to cut off aid over alleged mistreatment of white farmers, denying Trump's claim that authorities were "confiscating land."
"South Africa is a constitutional democracy that is deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice and equality. The South African government has not confiscated any land," Ramaphosa wrote in 'X', foreign media reported.
"We look forward to engaging with the Trump administration on our land reform policy and issues of bilateral interest," he wrote. He added that while the US was a key strategic political and trading partner, it did not provide significant funding to South Africa other than a major HIV/AIDS aid program.
His statement comes after Trump wrote on Social Truth on Sunday that he would cut off all future funding to the country until there is a full investigation into allegations that "South Africa is confiscating land and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY."
Trump's long-standing complaint, which he also made in 2018 during his first term, goes back to the complex land reform in South Africa, writes A2 CNN.
Past racist policies forcibly removed black and non-white South Africans from land for white use. There has been a provision for land redistribution and restitution in the country's constitution since South Africa emerged from the apartheid era and held its first democratic elections in 1994.
However, unemployment and poverty remain acute among South Africa's black people, who make up about 80% of the population, yet own some of the land. (A2 Televizion)
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