United States President Donald Trump announced in a Truth Social post that he would be stopping all future funding for South Africa until a "full investigation" has been carried out, presumably, into the country's new land seizure law. The law aims to tackle the sensitive issue of land restitution in the country and thus address economic and racial inequality stemming from the nation's apartheid era.
"South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY," Trump wrote, apparently speaking out against the controversial law which allows the government to seize land without having to pay compensation. The law enables the government to do so when it is "just and equitable and in the public interest." This occurs when, for example, the property is not being used and there's no intention to either develop or make money from it or when it poses a risk to people, as per the BBC. The law has been ill-received by the country's major parties.
"A massive Human Rights VIOLATION, at a minimum, is happening for all to see," Trump said. The US obligated $440 million to South Africa in 2023, according to data from the US ForeignAssistance.gov website.
