South Africans are convinced that Elon Musk must have, in some way, influenced US president Donald’s Trump’s views over the recent passing of the South African Land Appropriation Bill.
On January 23, 2025, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Expropriation Bill into law, replacing the apartheid-era Expropriation Act of 1975.
This new law provides a framework for the state to take back property for public purposes or in the public interest, aligning with Section 25 of the South African Constitution.
TRUMP THREATENS TO WITHDRAW FUNDING
The signing of this bill has sparked much debate. Trump criticized South Africa’s land expropriation policies, announcing plans to halt future U.S. financial assistance to the country.
He demanded a full investigation into the matter. This has led to a 1.9% decline in the value of the South African rand to R19 per U.S. dollar.
During a media interview with Fox News, Trump said: “South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people very badly. It is a bad situation that the Radical Left Media doesn’t want to so much as mention. A massive Human Rights violation, at a minimum, is happening for all to see. 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,” he said.
South Africans have taken to X (formally Twitter) to air their views, with many saying that Trump’s views are likely to have been influenced by Former South African, Elon Musk. Musk has maintained a close friendship with Trump.
HE’S NEVER EVEN BEEN TO SA
This is not the first time Donald Trump has spoken out on South African land issues. In August 2018, President Trump criticized South Africa’s land reform policies, expressing concerns over alleged land seizures and the “large-scale killing” of farmers.
But in November 2018, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa pointed out that President Trump hasn’t even set foot in South Africa and therefore did not fully understand the issues of the land. He described Trump’s views on the land debate as “ill-informed.” SS’spresident has yet to respond to Trump’s most recent threats to withdraw financial assistance to the country.
South Africa has previously explained to the US that land expropriation was not ‘a massive Human Rights violation’ but that before expropriating property, authorities go to great lengths in an attempt to negotiate with the owner to acquire the property on reasonable terms.
Expropriation is permitted only if these negotiations are unsuccessful, except in urgent situations requiring temporary property use.
DO YOU THINK ELON MUSK REALLY HAD SOME INFLUENCE OVER DONALD TRUMP’S VIEWS OR IS IT SOMETHING HE ARRIVED AT ON HIS OWN?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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