South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has hit back at former U.S. President Donald Trump following his threat to cut HIV/AIDS funding over South Africa’s land reform policy.
Speaking in response to Trump’s remarks, Ramaphosa dismissed the former president’s claims, stating: “I don’t know what Trump has to do with South African land because he’s never been here. He must keep his America; we will keep Africa.”
Ramaphosa clarified that the South African government has not confiscated any land but is implementing a legal framework to ensure equitable land access.
“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,” he said.
While acknowledging the United States as a strategic political and trade partner, Ramaphosa downplayed the significance of U.S. HIV/AIDS funding in South Africa.
“With the exception of PEPFAR aid, which constitutes 17% of South Africa’s HIV/AIDS programme, there is no other significant funding provided by the United States in South Africa.”
"I don't know what Trump has to do with South African land, because he's never been here. He must keep his America, we will keep Africa" ~ 2018 speech by South Africa president Cyril Ramaphosa
— African Hub (@AfricanHub_) February 3, 2025
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In a video seen by Kisasa News, Ramaphosa emphasized that South Africa is handling its land issues independently and urged Trump to refrain from interfering.
“We are a nation of blacks and whites working together to find solutions to our land question. Donald Trump must leave us alone. When we were facing apartheid and oppression, he was not here. He did not fight alongside us.”
He added: “Stay out of our issues, and we will not get involved in yours.”
However, Ramaphosa also expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with U.S. officials regarding land reform and bilateral relations.
“We look forward to engaging with the Trump administration over our land reform policy and other matters of mutual interest. We are certain that through these engagements, we will develop a better and common understanding.”
Trump previously announced via Truth Social that he would cut all future funding to South Africa, accusing the government of land confiscation and human rights violations.
“South Africa is confiscating land and treating certain classes of people very badly. The Radical Left Media refuses to report on it. This is a massive human rights violation,” Trump wrote.
“The United States won’t stand for it. We will act. I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation is completed.”
Trump later reiterated his position to journalists, saying: “South Africa’s leadership is doing some terrible, horrible things. We are investigating what they are doing—taking away land, confiscating land, and perhaps doing far worse.”
Last month, Ramaphosa signed into law a bill allowing land expropriation without compensation under specific circumstances. Land reform remains a highly contentious issue in South Africa, where much of the country’s farmland is still owned by white citizens, nearly 30 years after the fall of apartheid.
Calls for land reform have persisted, with many demanding that the government take decisive action to address historical injustices caused by racial segregation.
