Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu Reporting
The United States President Donald Trump has accused South Africa of mistreating “certain classes of people” and threatened to cut off US funding to the country until the matter is investigated.
In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump stated, “South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY. The United States won’t stand for it, we will act. Also, I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!” However, he did not provide any evidence to support his claims.
The motivation behind Trump’s remarks remains unclear, and the South African embassy in Washington, D.C., has not responded to requests for comment outside of regular business hours.
According to the most recent US government data, the United States allocated nearly $440 million in assistance to South Africa in 2023. The country currently holds the G20 presidency, with the US set to take over next.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recently downplayed concerns about his country’s relationship with Trump. Speaking last month, Ramaphosa said he had already spoken with Trump following his election victory and looked forward to working with his administration.
This is not the first time Trump has raised concerns about South Africa’s land policies. During his first administration, he announced that the US would investigate alleged large-scale killings of white farmers and violent land takeovers in South Africa. However, the South African government at the time dismissed these claims as misinformation. It remains unclear whether the Trump administration ever conducted the promised investigation.
Trump’s latest comments echo sentiments expressed by his close ally, Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa. In 2023, Musk responded to a video showing members of a far-left South African political party singing the anti-apartheid song “Kill the Boer”, accusing them of inciting violence against white people. Tagging President Ramaphosa, Musk asked, “Why do you say nothing?”
Trump’s statement could heighten tensions between the US and South Africa, particularly as Ramaphosa’s government navigates international relations amid its G20 presidency. If Trump’s threat to withhold funding materialises, it could impact key US-South Africa partnerships in areas such as trade, health, and security.
