Cape Town – South African officials have responded to US President Donald Trump’s allegations of human rights violations in South Africa targeting specific groups.
International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola and Head of Public Diplomacy, Clayson Monyela defended the recently passed expropriation law, saying it is in line with the country’s constitutional democracy.
This was after Trump raised concerns about South Africa’s land policies and suggested an inquiry.
“South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
( @realDonaldTrump – Truth Social Post )
( Donald J. Trump – Feb 02, 2025, 6:19 PM ET )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… pic.twitter.com/GrO8OaMUBV
— Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 TRUTH POSTS (@TruthTrumpPosts) February 3, 2025
“I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!” Trump wrote.
He also criticised the media for downplaying the issue, claiming that a significant human rights violation was unfolding in plain sight.
Lamola expressed hope that Trump’s advisers would use the investigative period to gain a better understanding of South Africa’s democratic framework.
“We trust President Trump’s advisers will leverage this investigative period to deepen their understanding of SA’s policies as a constitutional democracy. Such insights will ensure a respectful and informed approach to our democratic commitments,” the minister wrote on X.
We trust that President Trump’s advisors will leverage this investigative period to deepen their understanding of South Africa’s policies as a constitutional democracy. Such insights will ensure a respectful and informed approach to our democratic commitments.
— Minister: International Relations and Cooperation (@RonaldLamola) February 3, 2025
Monyela, on the other hand, emphasised the need for South Africans to protect the government from external criticism, particularly those opposing South Africa’s actions at the International Court of Justice and efforts to pursue trade with developing nations using their own currencies.
“In an age where truth and facts don’t matter much, we’ll keep shouting it. We know there’s a well-funded campaign that’s determined to ‘punish’ for approaching the ICJ, add the Brics decision to pursue trade among ourselves using own currencies to the mix etc. They know there are no chaotic illegal land grabs in SA. We are a constitutional democracy,” said Monyela on X.
In an age where truth & facts don’t matter much, we’ll keep shouting it. We know there’s a well funded campaign that’s still determined to “punish 🇿🇦 for approaching the ICJ”, add the #BRICS decision to pursue trade amongst ourselves using own currencies to the mix etc. They know…
— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) February 3, 2025
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Picture: X/@RonaldLamola
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
