Trump Freezes US Aid to S. Africa Over Land Seizure Law

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the United States would freeze aid to South Africa, citing concerns over a controversial land reform law that he claims allows for the confiscation of land from white farmers. Despite repeated denials from South African officials, Trump’s executive order emphasized that the legislation would allow the government to seize farmland from ethnic minorities, particularly Afrikaners, without compensation.

The law, which has become a source of heated debate, is part of ongoing land reform efforts in South Africa, where decades after the end of apartheid, most agricultural land is still owned by white individuals. The government has faced mounting pressure to implement reforms aimed at addressing historical land inequalities.

In his executive order, Trump also noted that the United States would actively support the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees fleeing what he called "government-sponsored, race-based discrimination" in South Africa.

Trump has repeatedly criticized South Africa’s expropriation act, which was signed into law last month, accusing the government of land grabs. However, South African authorities have strongly rejected these claims, calling them misinformation.

Elon Musk, a vocal supporter of Trump and a native of South Africa, has weighed in on the issue, accusing the South African government of enforcing "openly racist ownership laws." Musk's comments come amid ongoing delays in licensing his Starlink satellite internet service in the country, which reportedly faces obstacles tied to a policy mandating that major companies give 30% of their equity to historically disadvantaged groups.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that he will skip upcoming G20 talks in South Africa, criticizing the host government for its "anti-American" stance and signaling growing tensions between the two nations.