By McGeorge Mbare
As he continues with sweeping changes and that has the world feeling his presence, United States of America ‘s President Donald Trump has threatened to cut of funding to South Africa over its land expropriation policies.
Trump made a bold statement against the South African over its land policies, accusing the country’s leaders of planning to take white owned land after President Ramaphosa signed the expropriation bill into law.
“Terrible things are happening in South Africa, the leadership is doing terrible and horrible things, that’s under investigation now, until we find out what is happening. They are confiscating land and actually they are doing things that are perhaps far worse than that,” President Donald Trump stated.
Meanwhile, the South African Chamber of Commerce in the United States also expressed deep concerns over the possible impact on South African bussiness after President Trump ‘s bold threats.
According to SABC, the Chambers also emphasised the need for diplomacy and constructive dialogue that will strengthen economic ties and dress concerns through appropriate channels.
Meanwhile South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has responded to the threat a Robert Mugabe like response telling Trump to keep his America and leave South Africa to decide on the fate of their country. He also said his country is a constitutional democracy rooted in the rule of law.
“South Africa , like the USA 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. We look forward to engaging with the Trump administration over our land reform policy and issues of bilateral interest,” said President Ramaphosa.
It’s not the first time SA has been put on notice in a Trump social media post. Back in August 2018 during his first term, President Trump ordered his Secretary of State to closely study what he called the country’s land and farm seizures, expropriations and the large-scale killing of farmers.