Sat Feb 08 03:20:35 UTC 2025: **Trump Freezes Aid to South Africa Over Land Expropriation Law**

JOHANNESBURG/WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has frozen all US aid to South Africa in response to the country’s new land expropriation law, escalating a bitter dispute between the two nations. The executive order, signed Friday, cites the law as demonstrating a “shocking disregard” for citizens’ rights and alleges it facilitates the seizure of land from Afrikaners without compensation.

Trump’s order claims the law, along with other government policies and rhetoric, fuels violence against “racially disfavored” landowners and accuses South Africa of adopting “aggressive positions” towards the US and its allies, including at the International Court of Justice. The order also commits the US to assisting in the resettlement of Afrikaners facing alleged discrimination.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has vehemently defended the law, stating it is a constitutional process aimed at addressing historical land inequalities stemming from apartheid. He insists it’s not a tool for arbitrary confiscation and will ensure equitable land access. Ramaphosa has rejected Trump’s accusations, declaring South Africa will not be “bullied” into changing its policies.

The land expropriation law allows the government to seize land without compensation if deemed “just and equitable” and in the public interest, after failed negotiations with landowners. While no land has yet been expropriated under the new legislation, the law has sparked intense debate both domestically and internationally.

The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has criticized the law, fearing it threatens property rights and foreign investment, while the ruling African National Congress (ANC) argues it’s essential to correct historical injustices. The drastic disparity in land ownership remains a significant issue in South Africa, with Black South Africans comprising over 80% of the population but owning only about 4% of privately held farmland.

The US allocated approximately $440 million in aid to South Africa in 2023. This freeze comes amidst a broader Trump administration crackdown on foreign assistance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has already announced he will boycott the upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg in protest. The conflict highlights a growing rift between the US and South Africa over land reform and broader geopolitical issues.

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