The Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament (MP) Willie Aucamp defended Trump’s remarks and stated that US President Donald Trump was well within his rights when he commented on the Land Expropriation Act that President Cyril Ramaphosa signed recently.
Trump’s remarks and threats
In a recent social media update, Trump claimed that South Africa is taking land away from specific groups of people and warned that the US might subsequently stop all future financial support. This statement has sparked a variety of responses, with some people accusing him of interfering in South African affairs.
‘South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY,’ said Trump. He added that ‘the United States won’t stand for it, we will act. Also, I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!’
The South African Presidency issued a statement saying that the South African Government has not confiscated any land. Also, it states that the Expropriation Act ‘is not a confiscation instrument, but a constitutionally mandated legal process that ensures public access to land in an equitable and just manner as guided by the Constitution’.
DA MP Willie Aucamp, said that Trump, as a funder of certain South African government programmes, had the right to make such remarks.
‘He’s the president of the United States. They give us money and he said certain things that he’s got problems with. So, it’s his full right as a president to make those remarks,’ said Aucamp. He added that ‘we can’t stop him from making them. Whether we agree with him or we don’t that’s not the question. That is his point of view at this stage and we’ve got to convince him that things are different and that South Africa does not only consist of the ANC, that there are other parties in this government as the DA.’
Millions of lives at risk after Trump suspends foreign aid
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to suspend foreign aid for 90 days. This has brought shockwaves to aid organisations worldwide as it puts millions of lives at risk, particularly in South Africa. Various vital health programmes are now frozen, leaving recipients uncertain about their access to life-saving HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria treatments.
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