United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order freezing financial aid to South Africa.
The decision comes after he accused the country of violating property rights through its new land law and criticized its legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Trump’s move follows his earlier threats to cut funding, claiming without clear evidence that “South Africa is confiscating land” and treating “certain classes of people” unfairly.
The new land law, signed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa last month, allows land seizures without compensation in specific cases. It aims to address historical injustices from the apartheid era, where most farmland remained in the hands of white owners. The law permits expropriation without compensation if the land is unused, poses risks, or serves the public interest.
Trump’s close adviser, Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa, also criticized the policy. On X, Musk questioned why Ramaphosa had “openly racist ownership laws.”
President Ramaphosa has not officially responded to Trump’s executive order but previously defended the land policy. “The government has not confiscated any land,” he stated earlier, emphasizing that the goal is to ensure fair access to land for all South Africans.
The executive order claims the U.S. “cannot support the government of South Africa’s commission of rights violations.” It further criticizes South Africa’s accusations against Israel at the ICJ, where the country claimed Israel was committing genocide.
In addition to freezing aid, the U.S. plans to prioritize resettlement for South African farmers, especially Afrikaners, through its Refugee Admissions Program.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “South Africa’s leadership is doing terrible things. They’re taking away land and worse.”
To ease tensions, Ramaphosa reportedly spoke with Elon Musk over the phone, reaffirming South Africa’s commitment to justice, fairness, and the rule of law.
