South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims that his government is “confiscating” land, stating that the country’s land reform policy follows constitutional processes.
Trump’s remarks were seemingly in response to the recently signed Expropriation Act, which allows the government, in certain cases, to offer “nil compensation” for land acquired in the public interest. The issue of land ownership remains a sensitive topic in South Africa, where the majority of farmland is still controlled by white landowners three decades after the end of apartheid.
“The South African government has not confiscated any land,” Ramaphosa said in a statement, countering Trump’s claim that the government was “treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY” and threatening to cut U.S. funding to the country.
Ramaphosa emphasized that the Expropriation Act does not permit arbitrary seizures of land and requires authorities to negotiate with property owners.
“The recently adopted Expropriation Act is not a confiscation instrument,” the statement read. “It is a constitutionally mandated legal process that ensures public access to land in an equitable and just manner as guided by the constitution.”
The South African leader expressed willingness to engage with the Trump administration to clarify the country’s land reform policies and strengthen bilateral relations.
“We look forward to engaging with the Trump administration over our land reform policy and issues of bilateral interest. We are certain that out of those engagements, we will share a better and common understanding over these matters,” he added.
Ramaphosa also downplayed Trump’s threat to cut aid, noting that aside from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which funds 17% of South Africa’s HIV/AIDS program, “there is no other significant funding that is provided by the United States in South Africa.”
“The U.S. remains a key strategic political and trade partner for South Africa,” the statement concluded.
The land reform debate has drawn criticism from global figures, including South Africa-born billionaire Elon Musk, a known Trump ally, who has also voiced concerns over the policy.
