South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), has added its voice to the standoff between its government and the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Addressing a recent political gathering in the country’s North West province, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile on X) urged citizens to unite behind their government in the face of what he described as ‘Trump’s madness.’ Mbalula echoed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s words that South Africa will not accept being bullied by the United States.
Mbalula’s comments follow Trump’s 7 February decision to sign an executive order cutting aid to South Africa over a newly signed law allowing South Africa to seize privately owned land for public purposes or when it would be in the public interest (sometimes without compensation). The law aims to redress land inequalities originating from the country’s apartheid era.
Trump claims the law targets white South Africans who, more than 30 years after apartheid’s fall, still own more than 70 per cent of the country’s farming land despite accounting for less than 8 per cent of the population.
Apart from cutting the aid that made up 17 per cent of South Africa’s HIV budget, Trump has also offered refugee status to white South Africans, who he says are victims of ‘government-sponsored race-based discrimination.’
Video credit: @NewsLiveSA (X)
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