U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday freezing nearly $440 million in aid to South Africa, citing alleged “government-sponsored race-based discrimination” against white Afrikaners, news reports said.
The order also prioritizes the resettlement of Afrikaners—descendants of Dutch colonists—through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, claiming they face land confiscation and unequal treatment. This marks a reversal of Trump’s 2021 decision to suspend the refugee program, which he now says will serve U.S. interests by aiding Afrikaners.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa denied allegations of land confiscation, stating that land reform policies aim to address historical inequalities from apartheid, where Black South Africans, who make up 80% of the population, own just 4% of farmland. Ramaphosa emphasized that the reforms are constitutional and not racially motivated, adding, “We will not be bullied.”
The order has drawn sharp criticism from South Africa’s foreign ministry, which called it “misinformation” and highlighted the country’s painful history of colonialism and apartheid. They noted the irony of offering refugee status to a privileged group while deporting vulnerable asylum seekers from other nations.
The move has sparked international debate, with critics accusing Trump of misrepresenting South Africa’s efforts to address historical injustices. Meanwhile, Ramaphosa has sought to clarify the situation, including in a conversation with Elon Musk, who has criticized South Africa as “anti-white.” The controversy underscores ongoing global tensions over race, land reform, and foreign policy.
