- President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending all American aid to South Africa, citing the country's controversial land expropriation law and its diplomatic actions as reasons for the punitive measures.
- The executive order highlights South Africa's "egregious actions" in seizing White-owned farms without compensation and accuses the South African government of perpetuating "race-based discrimination."
- The EO also criticizes South Africa's alignment with Iran and its accusation of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice, further escalating tensions between the two nations.
- South African Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe threatened to withhold mineral exports to the United States, intensifying the diplomatic standoff between the two countries.
- The dispute reflects a broader diplomatic conflict, with the EO directing U.S. officials to prioritize the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees and emphasizing the need to address rights violations in South Africa.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order (EO) suspending all American aid to South Africa, fulfilling his earlier threat to penalize the country over its controversial land expropriation law.
The EO signed on Friday, Feb. 7, cites Pretoria's "egregious actions" in seizing White-owned farms without compensation and accuses the South African government of perpetuating "race-based discrimination." The order also highlights South Africa's alignment with Iran and its accusation of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as additional reasons for the punitive measures.
The EO comes just days after South African Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe threatened to withhold mineral exports to the United States. The South African official's threat followed Trump's initial warning on Sunday, Feb. 2. Mantashe's remarks made at the Investing in African Mining Indaba conference in Cape Town on Monday, Feb. 3, underscored the growing tensions between the two nations.
"Let us withhold minerals to the U.S.," Mantashe said. "If they don't give us money, let's not give them minerals. We are not just beggars. Let us use that endowment for our benefit." (Related: South African minister calls for MINERAL BOYCOTT in response to U.S. aid cuts.)
Trump's actions in this situation reflects his second administration's hardline approach to foreign policy, The EO states that Washington "cannot support the government of South Africa’s commission of rights violations in its country" and mandates the suspension of all aid "to the maximum extent allowed by law."
It also directs Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to prioritize the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, describing them as victims of "unjust racial discrimination." Primarily descended from Dutch settlers, Afrikaners – also called Boers – have been present in South Africa since 1652.
South Africa's land expropriation law under fire
The land expropriation law, signed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa last month, allows the government to seize land without compensation in cases deemed "just and equitable and in the public interest." Ramaphosa has defended the policy as a necessary step to address historical injustices stemming from apartheid, emphasizing that no land has been confiscated yet.
However, Trump and his allies – including South African-born billionaire Elon Musk – have criticized the law as racially discriminatory. In a post on X, Musk questioned why Ramaphosa had "openly racist ownership laws."
The dispute has escalated into a broader diplomatic standoff, with South Africa’s foreign policy decisions further complicating relations. The EO specifically references South Africa's case against Israel at the ICJ, where it accused Tel Aviv of genocide, as well as its growing ties with Tehran.
“South Africa has taken aggressive positions toward the United States and its allies,” the order states, accusing the country of “reinvigorating its relations with Iran to develop commercial, military, and nuclear arrangements.”
While the U.S. provided nearly $440 million in aid to South Africa in 2023, Trump's EO signals a dramatic shift in bilateral relations. Pretoria, for its part, has shown no signs of backing down.
Head over to Trump.news for more stories about President Donald Trump's executive orders.
Watch this clip that discusses the genocide and land grab targeting White farmers in South Africa.
This video is from the Escape to Freedom channel on Brighteon.com.
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Israel and South Africa face off at the International Court of Justice over Gaza genocide case.
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