And the difference in wages between male and female cops
During his first term, back in 2018, President Trump said that he would order the then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to look into seizures of land and killings of white farmers in South Africa.
These types of comments are part of a longer-standing, false narrative believed by right-wing groups in South Africa. The belief is that white people are being dispossessed of their lands and are victims of genocide.
On February 2, 2025, President Trump took to his social media site, Truth Social, to say that South Africa has been “confiscating land and treating certain classes of people very badly.”
The South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, told his nation's parliament that they “will not be bullied.” While a specific “bully” was not named, Cyril Ramaphosa ensured the people that South Africans are “resilient” and that they “will not be deterred.”
President Ramaphosa also mentioned that the new Expropriation Act isn’t a confiscation instrument but instead a legal process ensuring the public has access to land in an “equitable and just manner.”
The apartheid ended in 1994. However, South Africa is still dealing with a lot of racial inequality in land ownership specifically.
Elon Musk responded on X inquiring about the supposedly racist ownership laws. Ramaphosa allegedly then spoke with Elon Musk on the phone about this misinformation.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, that he won’t be attending the G20 Summit later in the year in Johannesburg due to the fact that, according to him, South Africa is “doing very bad things.”
A 1913 law forced thousands of Black families to leave their land. This meant that African land ownership was at only 7%, though in 1936 it did rise to 13%.
In 2017, a land audit showed that 8% of the population comprised of white people, owned approximately three-fourths of farms and agricultural holdings. Black South Africans on the other hand, owned only 4%.
The DA or the Democratic Alliance which is the second-largest South African government party of the National Unity (GNU) believes that the Expropriation Act goes too far in allowing the government to take land without compensation. They argue that it could hurt the economy and jobs in South Africa.
This right-wing party in South Africa and also a GNU member says that it will challenge the constitutionality of this law.
Expropriation advocates say that it’s because “until the new law, the government was only able to buy land for redistribution to Black owners under a "willing-seller, willing-buyer" model. This left lots of land owned by white people, unutilized.
They claim that the law poses risks in terms of property rights in South Africa and that it can send “an extremely negative message to the international community” who may not be persuaded to invest somewhere where their property could be expropriated.
Sources: (Time) (Britannica)
See also: What exactly are tariffs and why does Trump favor them so much
The South African president, Ramaphosa, took to X, formerly Twitter, on February 3, 2025, to refute Trump’s statements and said that no land had been confiscated
According to the government, this law “outlines how expropriation can be done and on what basis.” Land that is for a public purpose or that is in the public’s interest, can be taken by the government.
This law explains what “just and equitable” compensation is, however, there is one clause that says that the government might not have to provide compensation in certain scenarios.
When the land is either not in use and its main purpose is to appreciate in market value or when it has been abandoned.
This target date has shifted numerous times and now is set at 2030.
No, since the legislation took effect a few weeks ago, no land has been expropriated.
In 1991, the racial aspect of the land measures was repealed. However, economists Johann Kirsten and Whidile Sihloo of Stellenbosch University have said that approximately 63% of the land was owned by white farmers and that the post-apartheid government had set targets for redistributing 30% of the land within a five-year period.
On February 2, 2025, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social criticizing South Africa’s land policies and announcing plans to cut US funding until an investigation takes place. The statement quickly drew a response from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who assured the nation they “will not be bullied.” As the debate unfolds, key figures like Elon Musk and US officials have joined the conversation, bringing renewed attention to South Africa’s land reform policies and their global impact.
Curious about the South Africa dispute? Click through now to find out more.
Trump and South Africa: understanding the dispute
Key remarks and controversies
LIFESTYLE Politics
On February 2, 2025, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social criticizing South Africa’s land policies and announcing plans to cut US funding until an investigation takes place. The statement quickly drew a response from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who assured the nation they “will not be bullied.” As the debate unfolds, key figures like Elon Musk and US officials have joined the conversation, bringing renewed attention to South Africa’s land reform policies and their global impact.
Curious about the South Africa dispute? Click through now to find out more.