U.S. President Donald Trump has announced his intention to halt all funding to South Africa, citing concerns over land expropriation and alleged human rights violations.
Addressing a press meet, Trump declared that financial aid would be suspended until a full investigation is conducted. His remarks come in response to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signing the Expropriation Act into law, which allows for land seizures without compensation.
“Terrible things are happening in South Africa. Their leadership is doing horrible, horrible things. That is under investigation right now,” Trump said. “Until we determine exactly what South Africa is doing—taking away land, confiscating property, and perhaps even worse—we will not provide any funding.”
Trump accused the South African government of mistreating a specific class of people and committing what he described as a “massive human rights violation.” He emphasized that his administration would not tolerate such actions and vowed to respond decisively.
In 2023, the U.S. committed nearly $440 million (approximately Ksh 57 billion) in aid to South Africa. The proposed funding cut could have significant economic and diplomatic consequences for the nation.
Last month, Ramaphosa stated that he had “no problem or doubt” regarding relations with Trump and confirmed they had spoken over the phone about U.S.-South Africa ties. However, the latest announcement signals a potential shift in the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
