South African President Cyril Ramaphosa fired back at Donald Trump after the former US president announced plans to cut funding to South Africa over the country’s land expropriation policies.
Trump, in a Truth Social post, accused South Africa of “confiscating land” and treating “certain classes of people very badly.”
He vowed to halt US funding until a “full investigation” was conducted.
But Ramaphosa isn’t having it.
Ramaphosa responds to Trump
Ramaphosa pushed back against Trump’s claims. He said:
“South Africa is a constitutional democracy that is deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice, and equality.”
He made it clear that the government has “not confiscated any land” and that the Expropriation Act is not a tool for land grabs.
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.
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) February 3, 2025
The recently adopted Expropriation Act is not a confiscation instrument, but a constitutionally mandated legal…
Instead, it is a “constitutionally mandated legal process” designed to ensure fair access to land.
Ramaphosa also pointed out that land expropriation laws exist in many countries, including the US, and reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to engaging with the Trump administration.
While Trump has threatened to cut off funding, Ramaphosa downplayed the impact.
He said aside from PEPFAR aid (17% of South Africa’s HIV/AIDS program), “there is no other funding that is received by South Africa from the United States.”
Ramaphosa’s viral clip from 2018
Back in 2018, Ramaphosa responded to Trump’s interest in South Africa. At the time, he made it clear that South Africa’s land belongs to its people, and not to foreign politicians.
“South Africa is our land. South Africa belongs to all the people who live here. It does not belong to Donald Trump. He can keep his America,” Ramaphosa declared.
Cyril Ramaphosa said this a while back, I wonder if he still has the balls to say it again now that Donald Trump is president. pic.twitter.com/nV1XnemBuf
— Champagne Mami 📿 🧜♀️ (@BassieBuzzing) February 3, 2025
And he didn’t stop there.
Taking a historical swipe, Ramaphosa reminded Trump that his own “forebears” were responsible for wiping out Indigenous Americans, suggesting the US had far worse land-related human rights issues.
“Donald Trump, you are even worse because your forebears came to America, found the […] indigenous Americans, and wiped them out.”
Ramaphosa also pointed out that Trump had no role in South Africa’s fight for democracy and shouldn’t try to interfere now.
“When we were facing apartheid, when we were facing oppression, he was not here. He did not fight side by side with us,” he said.
The president emphasised that South Africans are working toward their own solutions, without outside interference.
“As far as I recall, Donald Trump was not around the negotiating table when we negotiated the end of apartheid. Stick around there in the White House. We will do our business here. You have your own problems. Leave us alone.”
With Trump’s recent threats to cut off US funding and Ramaphosa standing firm, tensions are heating up again.