“If they don’t give us money, we don’t give them minerals,” South African minister threatened. Trump says the country “is confiscating land” and Musk believes “it’s time for USAID to die.”
South African mineral resources Minister Gwede Mantashe said on Monday that more natural resources will not be sent to the United States if the new US President Donald Trump will cease funding to the African nation.
“If they don’t give us money, we don’t give them minerals“The South African minister said after Donald Trump’s statements that funding to the country will be cut until an investigation into the alleged expropriations is completed.
“On the continent, we can’t fear everything, if not, let’s collapse. Africa is a resource -rich continent, we have to be aware of it and enjoy this reality, ”he added.
What do Trump and Musk say
President Donald Trump wrote on Sunday that he would “cut all future financing to South Africa” in protest against his current land reform. According to the Republican, South Africa “is confiscating land and treating very badly certain classes of people” and the “radical left does not want to know.”
“A huge violation of human rights, at the very least, is happening ahead of everyone,” said Trump.
Elon Muskone of Trump’s closest allies and one of the faces of his new administration was born in South Africa in 1971 during the apartheid era in the country. The billionaire became an American citizen in 2002. Despite everything, the technology tycoon said on Sunday that it’s time for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) “to die“.
USAID “is a criminal organization” and “it’s time to die” in the X – the latest sign that Trump administration is about to eliminate or restructure the agency at the age of 64.
Cautious South Africa
Also the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, explained this Monday, on social network X, that the law of expropriation is not an instrument of confiscation.
“The recently adopted expropriation law is not an instrument of confiscation, but a legal process, mandated by the Constitution, which ensures public access to land in an equitable and fair way,” said the South African head of state.
South Africa, like the United States, has always had laws of expropriation that balance the need for public use of land and the protection of owners’ rights, continued Ramaphosa.
“The South African government did not confiscate any land”he assured.
“We expect, with expectation, dialogue with the Trump administration about our agrarian reform policy and issues of bilateral interest. We are certain that from these contacts we will share a better and common understanding of these issues, ”he said.
According to the head of state, the US “remains a fundamental political and commercial partner for South Africa.”
What is the law of expropriation?
On January 23, Ramaphosa promulgated the expropriation law, which will facilitate the expropriation of lands of the public interest by state bodies – local, provincial and national authorities – provided that fair compensation is paid, thus replacing the legislation that was in force Since 1975.
In 2017, the journal City Press reported that white farmers had almost three quarters from South Africa agricultural lands, despite 23 years of government efforts to redistribute land to the black majority.
However, according to the South African presidency, the expropriation cannot be exercised unless the expropriate authority tried unsuccessfully to reach an agreement with the owner or holder of the right to property in reasonable terms. ”
In addition, the law provides for disputes to be submitted to mediation or the competent courts.
When Donald Trump took office, South African presidents, a neighboring nation of Mozambique, and Burundi were the only African leaders to congratulate the Republican for the return to the president.
