Ramaphosa responds to Trump, says SA has ‘not confiscated any land’

President Cyril Ramaphosa has responded to his United States counterpart Donald Trump’s cutting of financial support to South Africa.

The US president announced on Sunday that his administration would halt all funding to South Africa after Ramaphosa signed the Expropriation Act.

Trump accused South Africa of “treating certain classes of people very badly” and said no funding would be released until his administration had investigated the matter.

No land confiscation

Responding early on Monday, Ramaphosa said South Africa was not discriminating against any of its citizens.

“South Africa is a constitutional democracy that is deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice and equality. The South African government has not confiscated any land,” he said.

Ramaphosa said he was looking forward to engaging with the Trump administration over South Africa’s land reform policy and issues of bilateral interest.

“We are certain that out of those engagements, we will share a better and common understanding over these matters,” stated the president.

US contribution

Ramaphosa stressed that the United States was a key partner, both politically and through trade, but suggested the broader financial losses may be minimal.

“With the exception of PEPFAR Aid, which constitutes 17% of South Africa’s HIVAids programme, there is no other significant funding that is provided by the United States in South Africa,” stated Ramaphosa.

However, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) stated in its 2024 review that it had contributed US$94 million to the fight against tuberculosis (TB) in South Africa.

On Monday, Reuters reported that Elon Musk, Trump’s government efficiency advisor, disliked USAID, which he hoped would soon be dissolved.

As well as funding for the TB programme, USAID has contributed to wildlife tracking across Southern Africa and support for gender-based violence programmes.

A social media thumbnail outlining USAID’s TB investment in South Africa. Picture: USAID South Africa

Expropriation Act

Trump described his understanding of the situation in South Africa as a “human rights violation”, while Ramaphosa suggested laws such as the Expropriation Act were commonplace.

“South Africa, like the United States and other countries, has always had expropriation laws that balance the need for public usage of land and the protection of rights of property owners,” stated Ramaphosa.

The South African president doubled down on the legality of the Expropriation Act, saying land reform was protected by the Constitution.

“The recently adopted Expropriation Act is not a confiscation instrument, but a constitutionally mandated legal process that ensures public access to land in an equitable and just manner as guided by the constitution.”

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