South Africa has condemned what they call “megaphone diplomacy” from President Donald Trump after he announced the halt of all federal funding to the country. This move comes after Trump had already signed an executive order last month cutting all US financial assistance to South Africa. The president, along with ally Elon Musk, has been critical of the country’s land policy and the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
In response to Trump’s latest order, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, stated that the country will not engage in counterproductive megaphone diplomacy. The issue at hand is the stark contrast in land ownership in South Africa, where white landowners still control three quarters of the freehold farmland despite black people making up 80% of the population.
In an effort to address this inequality, Ramaphosa signed a law in January allowing the state to expropriate land in the public interest, sometimes without compensating the owner. Trump’s decision to cut funding to South Africa adds another layer of tension between the two countries.
Last year, US assistance to South Africa amounted to $323.4 million, according to government data. Trump’s offer of a rapid pathway to citizenship in the US for South African farmers looking to flee the country has further escalated the situation. South Africa’s response to Trump’s actions indicates a strong stance against what they perceive as interference in their internal affairs.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
