By Ollus Ndomu
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticism of the country’s land expropriation policy, saying Trump has no role in South Africa’s affairs.
“South Africa is our land, and it belongs to all who live in it. It does not belong to Donald Trump,” Ramaphosa said Monday. He added that Trump was not part of the negotiations that ended apartheid and should focus on his own country.
Trump announced on Sunday that he was cutting U.S. funding to South Africa pending an investigation into what he called “land confiscation and mistreatment of certain classes of people.” The South African government insists its expropriation policy is legal and aimed at redressing historical injustices.
Opposition leader Julius Malema of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) called Trump’s remarks offensive and an attack on South Africa’s sovereignty. “No threat will stop us from expropriating land without compensation,” he said Tuesday.
The dispute adds to growing tensions between Washington and Pretoria. The South African government has yet to formally respond to Trump’s funding suspension.
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